as in deficiency
formal
a failure to get what is expected or needed
a shortfall in milk production profit shortfalls
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Recent Examples of shortfall
Social Security faces a shortfall as soon as 2032.
—
Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 25 May 2026
The flight computer kept the other five engines longer than originally planned to make up for the shortfall, putting the craft on an acceptable sub-orbital trajectory.
—William Harwood, CBS News, 22 May 2026
Gavi’s funding shortfalls will hold back immunization in other ways, too.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 21 May 2026
In the 2024-25 school year, the four school districts combined spent more than $119 million to cover the state’s shortfall, according to a statement from the coalition Wednesday.
—Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 20 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for shortfall
Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 25 May 2026
The flight computer kept the other five engines longer than originally planned to make up for the shortfall, putting the craft on an acceptable sub-orbital trajectory.
—William Harwood, CBS News, 22 May 2026
Gavi’s funding shortfalls will hold back immunization in other ways, too.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 21 May 2026
In the 2024-25 school year, the four school districts combined spent more than $119 million to cover the state’s shortfall, according to a statement from the coalition Wednesday.
—Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 20 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for shortfall
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shortfall
Noun
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Aguillard said news reporting in 2024 on serious structural deficiencies inside Sleetmute’s K-12 Jack Egnaty Sr.—
Emily Schwing,
ProPublica,
29 May 2026
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Higher amounts may be used temporarily under medical guidance when correcting a deficiency.—
Morgan Pearson,
Verywell Health,
29 May 2026
Noun
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Point Loma catcher Avery MacPherson erased that deficit in the home half of the third with her own three-run blast.—
Don Norcross,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 May 2026
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Senior Tanner Gable hit a sacrifice fly to cut the deficit to one run before right fielder Santiago Garza smashed a go-ahead, two-run homer to left.—
Justin Vigil Zuniga,
Daily News,
27 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shortfall.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shortfall. Accessed 3 Jun. 2026.
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