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
Dangerous living conditions persist in Gaza after more than two years of devastating Israeli bombardment and aid shortfalls.
—
Wafaa Shurafa, Los Angeles Times, 13 Jan. 2026
Democratic lawmakers blame the state’s budget shortfalls on that decision.
—Sarah Cutler, Idaho Statesman, 9 Jan. 2026
The district, while improving its letter grade to an A in recent years, has faced numerous operational challenges, including rapidly declining enrollment, budget shortfalls, decaying facilities and leadership shakeups.
—Scott Travis, Sun Sentinel, 5 Jan. 2026
San Diego’s city and county governments continue to face budget shortfalls that have been years in the making.
—Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Jan. 2026
But funding shortfalls, bureaucratic hurdles and the Covid-19 pandemic all contributed, too.
—Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 1 Jan. 2026
Today, Colorado faces high health and home insurance rates, poor road conditions, business-stifling overregulation, state budget shortfalls, and rising electricity and heating costs.
—Krista Kafer, Denver Post, 31 Dec. 2025
Plans for an interchange there were placed on CDOT's 10-year plan radar several years ago, but now the high cost, federal cutbacks, and state budget shortfalls mean there's no money available to do the project.
—Alan Gionet, CBS News, 31 Dec. 2025
Billionaires and California’s budget The threat of an exodus of wealth is a more pressing challenge for California’s governing Democrats, who must balance the annual state budget and have increasingly faced multibillion-dollar shortfalls.
—Nicole Nixon, Sacbee.com, 30 Dec. 2025
Wafaa Shurafa, Los Angeles Times, 13 Jan. 2026
Democratic lawmakers blame the state’s budget shortfalls on that decision.
—Sarah Cutler, Idaho Statesman, 9 Jan. 2026
The district, while improving its letter grade to an A in recent years, has faced numerous operational challenges, including rapidly declining enrollment, budget shortfalls, decaying facilities and leadership shakeups.
—Scott Travis, Sun Sentinel, 5 Jan. 2026
San Diego’s city and county governments continue to face budget shortfalls that have been years in the making.
—Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Jan. 2026
But funding shortfalls, bureaucratic hurdles and the Covid-19 pandemic all contributed, too.
—Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 1 Jan. 2026
Today, Colorado faces high health and home insurance rates, poor road conditions, business-stifling overregulation, state budget shortfalls, and rising electricity and heating costs.
—Krista Kafer, Denver Post, 31 Dec. 2025
Plans for an interchange there were placed on CDOT's 10-year plan radar several years ago, but now the high cost, federal cutbacks, and state budget shortfalls mean there's no money available to do the project.
—Alan Gionet, CBS News, 31 Dec. 2025
Billionaires and California’s budget The threat of an exodus of wealth is a more pressing challenge for California’s governing Democrats, who must balance the annual state budget and have increasingly faced multibillion-dollar shortfalls.
—Nicole Nixon, Sacbee.com, 30 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shortfalls
Noun
-
That may come down to the performance of the Bears defense, which has relied on a league-best 33 turnovers to make up for other deficiencies.—
Hank Gola,
New York Daily News,
9 Jan. 2026
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From vitamin D deficiencies to stumbling circadian rhythms, all these extra dark hours can cause major sleep disruptors.—
Hunter Boyce,
AJC.com,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Gold is a traditional safe haven against inflation, mounting deficits, geopolitical tensions and general economic concerns.—
David Goldman,
CNN Money,
14 Jan. 2026
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On top of that, Petek wrote that over the last four years the governor and Legislature had plugged $125 billion in budget holes largely without addressing the structural differences between spending and revenue which have led budget deficits to grow over time.—
Andrew Graham,
Sacbee.com,
13 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shortfalls.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shortfalls. Accessed 19 Jan. 2026.
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