1
as in insufficient
not coming up to an expected measure or meeting a particular need
we felt the afternoon television offerings were somewhat lacking in entertainment value
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in absent
not present or in evidence
for the moment anyway, wood for the fireplace is lacking
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of lacking
Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 3 June 2026
Maresca’s raw qualifications, however, are somewhat lacking.
—Graham Ruthven, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026
Not just any type of bus, but a marshrutka—a crowded, rumbling, claustrophobic Soviet holdover minibus, solidly built with steel girding and equally lacking in shock absorbers and seat padding.
—Irene Zabytko
may 7, Literary Hub, 7 May 2026
So many young players come up the ranks lacking game management.
—Pierre Lebrun, New York Times, 7 May 2026
With Francisco Lindor, Jorge Polanco and Ronny Mauricio all injured, the options are somewhat lacking.
—Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 4 May 2026
The detainees—from Pakistan, India, Nigeria, Bangladesh, Myanmar and eight other nations—were found in restricted compounds, some lacking passports or proper immigration documentation.
—Rodney Muhumuza, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2026
If your yard is a bit lacking in colorful birds, adding a feeder can help attract all sorts of them.
—Brittany Vanderbill, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Apr. 2026
But the upper frequencies are still slightly lacking.
—Mark Knapp, PC Magazine, 30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
Coaches and teammates have struggled to remain in contact with him, and AIyuk’s rare social media posts have been both cryptic and lacking clues about his football ambitions.
—Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 3 June 2026
Maresca’s raw qualifications, however, are somewhat lacking.
—Graham Ruthven, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026
Not just any type of bus, but a marshrutka—a crowded, rumbling, claustrophobic Soviet holdover minibus, solidly built with steel girding and equally lacking in shock absorbers and seat padding.
—Irene Zabytko
may 7, Literary Hub, 7 May 2026
So many young players come up the ranks lacking game management.
—Pierre Lebrun, New York Times, 7 May 2026
With Francisco Lindor, Jorge Polanco and Ronny Mauricio all injured, the options are somewhat lacking.
—Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 4 May 2026
The detainees—from Pakistan, India, Nigeria, Bangladesh, Myanmar and eight other nations—were found in restricted compounds, some lacking passports or proper immigration documentation.
—Rodney Muhumuza, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2026
If your yard is a bit lacking in colorful birds, adding a feeder can help attract all sorts of them.
—Brittany Vanderbill, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Apr. 2026
But the upper frequencies are still slightly lacking.
—Mark Knapp, PC Magazine, 30 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lacking
Adjective
-
Congested dormitories, a lack of emergency exits and insufficient firefighting equipment have often contributed to loss of life and extensive damage.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
12 June 2026
-
In regulated and mission-critical environments, capability alone is insufficient.—
Srini Attili,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
Adjective
-
This comes after Scott was notably absent from the Chronicle of Philanthropy’s list of the top 50 donors of the year.—
Allison DeGrushe,
StyleCaster,
14 June 2026
-
Performances are scheduled throughout June and July, giving both residents and World Cup visitors opportunities to experience a story that remains largely absent from mainstream history books.—
J.M. Banks
June 13,
Kansas City Star,
13 June 2026
Verb
-
Everyone loves the idea of packing cute sandals for a summer Europe trip, until they’re covered in blisters halfway through the day and begging to call a taxi.—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
13 June 2026
-
When the chain filed for bankruptcy eight years later, fans tagged Beyoncé online, begging her to save it.—
Rita Omokha,
Vanity Fair,
12 June 2026
Adjective
-
And resources will only get more scarce as pressure builds to cut costs and benefits in a tight job market.—
Jessica Guynn,
USA Today,
14 June 2026
-
Japan's school lunch program was actually started after World War II, when the country was shattered and food was scarce.—
Adam Yamaguchi,
CBS News,
14 June 2026
Adjective
-
On Thursday, June 11, the Mexican missing person group Buscando Corazones Nogales reported receiving an anonymous tip claiming Guthrie’s remains were buried in an unmarked grave near the Mexican border.—
Allison DeGrushe,
StyleCaster,
12 June 2026
-
Authorities are seeking the public’s help in finding a missing 6-year-old from Compton, last seen with his caregiver.—
Summer Lin,
Los Angeles Times,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
The body camera footage shows a shirtless Pino on another boat, and Brutto asking him if he was injured.—
David Goodhue,
Miami Herald,
10 June 2026
-
One knight short for the trial of seven that will determine if he is freed or if he will be mutilated by the crown, Dunk appeals to the honor of all knights present, asking them to take up his cause.—
Joe Otterson,
Variety,
10 June 2026
Adjective
-
This trend of inadequate math preparation among first-year university students, UC faculty said in their letter, results in instructors having to reteach middle school math while the level of course content drops below what’s needed for advanced STEM work.—
Tarini Mehta,
Sacbee.com,
11 June 2026
-
The hunger and economic strike began May 19, including at the Desert View Annex, a wing of the Adelanto ICE Processing Center, where detainees alleged subpar conditions and inadequate medical care.—
Ruben Vives,
Los Angeles Times,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
Iran has repeatedly refused for years to fully end its nuclear program, insisting it’s designed to protect Iran’s sovereignty and not to build a nuclear weapon.—
Sara Dorn,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
-
Paula Conaway alleged she was harassed and ultimately demoted from her position as deputy chief for insisting on accountability for officers under her command.—
Harrison Mantas,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
10 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lacking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lacking. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
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