1
as in lost
no longer possessed
the missing socks turned up in the dog's special hiding place
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in absent
not present or in evidence
any sense of how real people talk and act is missing from this novel
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in skipping
to fail to attend
had to miss work for a week because of the flu
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in misunderstanding
to fail to understand the true or actual meaning of
I think you're missing the point
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in failing
to be unsuccessful
everyone knows that most of the new television series will miss and be gone before anyone notices
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of missing
Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 15 May 2026
What was missing were the people at the center of it, the ones for whom the outcome wasn't abstract at all.
—Jamie Stockwell, USA Today, 15 May 2026
Matt Reigle Outkick, FOXNews.com, 16 May 2026
University was missing several starting offensive linemen for various reasons.
—Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for missing
Adjective
When the boy goes missing, Jeanne is the most obvious suspect.
—Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 15 May 2026
What was missing were the people at the center of it, the ones for whom the outcome wasn't abstract at all.
—Jamie Stockwell, USA Today, 15 May 2026
Verb
There's really nothing better than firing up a grill and having a nice barbecue, but few things are as enraging as getting ready to cook and realizing something is missing.
—Matt Reigle Outkick, FOXNews.com, 16 May 2026
University was missing several starting offensive linemen for various reasons.
—Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for missing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for missing
Adjective
-
This is the most powerful story about two Korean sisters separated during Japanese occupation in WW2—Hana is taken to Japan and forced to become a comfort woman, meanwhile Emi left behind grows up and spends her life searching for her lost sister.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 May 2026
-
Rees took over play-calling duties after Week 10 as the Browns sought answers in a lost season.—
Gabriel Burns,
AJC.com,
19 May 2026
Adjective
-
The problem is not simply that these writers are absent from Parisian shelves.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 May 2026
-
And whatever rifts had formed in his relationship with Altman were largely absent from social media.—
Ashley Capoot,Lora Kolodny,
CNBC,
18 May 2026
Adjective
-
Vacation used to mean turning off the out-of-office.—
Hanna Wickes,
Charlotte Observer,
16 May 2026
-
Dementia wasn’t on anyone’s list of immediate concerns, and Rob reasons that stress may be behind these out-of-character glitches.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
Next season will see Ten Hag skipping touchline management altogether, taking up a new role as sporting director of his boyhood club back in the Netherlands, FC Twente.—
Carl Anka,
New York Times,
17 May 2026
-
The most common issue from skipping routine fan maintenance is dust buildup.—
Louise Parks,
Martha Stewart,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
Toine says the two most common errors in orchid maintenance result from misunderstanding light and water requirements.—
Joshua Siskin,
Oc Register,
14 May 2026
-
David Schurman Wallace on misunderstanding Gertrude Stein.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The president pressed Nigeria last fall to take more action against terrorism, accusing the country of failing to deal with rampant violence against Christians.—
Joe Walsh,
CBS News,
16 May 2026
-
Their father, Nahuel (Amién), flits from one romantic affair to another, failing to recognize his shortcomings the way fathers typically forget minor yet significant details, like mistaking his younger daughter’s shoe size or never delivering on his promise to have the sink fixed.—
Lé Baltar,
IndieWire,
16 May 2026
Adjective
-
Room by room, the author takes us through the house, now long gone.—
Mary Ann Grossmann,
Twin Cities,
8 Feb. 2026
-
Retaining Hall, 39, keeps one familiar face from Dart’s rookie year on the offensive side of the building for his second NFL season, with Brian Daboll, Mike Kafka and Shea Tierney all long gone.—
Pat Leonard,
New York Daily News,
31 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Missing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/missing. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
