as in deficiencies
formal
a failure to get what is expected or needed
a shortfall in milk production profit shortfalls
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Recent Examples of shortfalls
While defeating the two measures has relieved many property owners in South Hadley, budget shortfalls due to dwindling state aid and fading federal pandemic-era funds are causing local governments to search high and low for new sources of funding.
—
Tim Dunn, Boston Herald, 15 Apr. 2026
Russia has reduced gold holdings in recent months, likely to help finance budget shortfalls, while Ghana has also sold reserves to boost foreign currency liquidity, data from Metals Focus showed.
—Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 14 Apr. 2026
Looming threats of power shortfalls in Illinois in the next five years will also be a factor.
—Carolyn Stein, Chicago Tribune, 14 Apr. 2026
These are not recoverable shortfalls.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 12 Apr. 2026
Therapy and other mental health services for students who otherwise wouldn’t have access to them will be eliminated from Olathe Public Schools next year as the district makes cuts in the face of budget shortfalls.
—Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 10 Apr. 2026
This keeps balances stable and reduces the risk of shortfalls.
—Fazila Shahid Lodhi, Idaho Statesman, 8 Apr. 2026
To help fill in those shortfalls, Medicaid is the main source of health coverage for many Native Americans, according to KFF, a health information nonprofit that includes KFF Health News.
—Katheryn Houghton, NPR, 7 Apr. 2026
Last year, Cuba’s fuel imports fell by more than a third, and electricity shortfalls have at times wiped out nearly 30 percent of daily demand.
—Thomas E. Franklin, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026
Tim Dunn, Boston Herald, 15 Apr. 2026
Russia has reduced gold holdings in recent months, likely to help finance budget shortfalls, while Ghana has also sold reserves to boost foreign currency liquidity, data from Metals Focus showed.
—Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 14 Apr. 2026
Looming threats of power shortfalls in Illinois in the next five years will also be a factor.
—Carolyn Stein, Chicago Tribune, 14 Apr. 2026
These are not recoverable shortfalls.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 12 Apr. 2026
Therapy and other mental health services for students who otherwise wouldn’t have access to them will be eliminated from Olathe Public Schools next year as the district makes cuts in the face of budget shortfalls.
—Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 10 Apr. 2026
This keeps balances stable and reduces the risk of shortfalls.
—Fazila Shahid Lodhi, Idaho Statesman, 8 Apr. 2026
To help fill in those shortfalls, Medicaid is the main source of health coverage for many Native Americans, according to KFF, a health information nonprofit that includes KFF Health News.
—Katheryn Houghton, NPR, 7 Apr. 2026
Last year, Cuba’s fuel imports fell by more than a third, and electricity shortfalls have at times wiped out nearly 30 percent of daily demand.
—Thomas E. Franklin, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shortfalls
Noun
-
The move signaled their clarity about their deficiencies over the last few seasons.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Lawmakers have proposed several bills this session related to the agency that have, in part, been meant to address deficiencies or gaps made public after the recent tragedies.—
Laura Tillman,
Hartford Courant,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Without a doubt, the city, the county, the school districts, and the state are approaching crisis positions as financial stability is threatened by structural deficits.—
Harvey Levine,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Like most Bay Area transit agencies, the VTA – although reporting a rebound in ridership – is projecting multi-million dollar deficits in the coming years, a hangover from pandemic-era ridership losses.—
Ryan Macasero,
Mercury News,
15 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shortfalls.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shortfalls. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.
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