as in lack
a falling short of an essential or desirable amount or number
there was a troubling shortage of supplies for the troops overseas this year
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of shortage
Space sector companies of all varieties, in recent years, have seen prolonged hiring periods, high employee turnover rates, and persistent labor shortages.
—
Paxton Honerkamp,
CNBC,
27 June 2026
Last summer saw a 27% increase in new lifeguard recruits for pools and beaches, the city said, which is good news considering the lifeguard shortages in years prior.
—
Noelle Lilley,
CBS News,
27 June 2026
Bateman said most states face similar issues — weak IEPs, weak progress data and a lack of individualized education — all of which are exacerbated by staff and funding shortages familiar to Connecticut.
—
Sasha Allen,
Hartford Courant,
27 June 2026
Public safety overtime has become a growing issue for cities across the country grappling with staffing shortages and increasing service demands.
—
Ethan Varian,
Mercury News,
9 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for shortage
Paxton Honerkamp,
CNBC,
27 June 2026
Last summer saw a 27% increase in new lifeguard recruits for pools and beaches, the city said, which is good news considering the lifeguard shortages in years prior.
—
Noelle Lilley,
CBS News,
27 June 2026
Bateman said most states face similar issues — weak IEPs, weak progress data and a lack of individualized education — all of which are exacerbated by staff and funding shortages familiar to Connecticut.
—
Sasha Allen,
Hartford Courant,
27 June 2026
Public safety overtime has become a growing issue for cities across the country grappling with staffing shortages and increasing service demands.
—
Ethan Varian,
Mercury News,
9 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for shortage
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shortage
Noun
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Keli Gonzalez, a painter the museum commissioned, became frustrated by the lack of female representation.
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The lack of a World Cup title is the one gap on his historic résumé.
Noun
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The Lakers spent the first days of free agency addressing their shooting deficiencies.
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Interveinal chlorosis and yellowing in new leaves can indicate an iron deficiency.
Noun
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When the act of producing becomes abundant, its scarcity value falls.
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To add to the problem, ordinary Cubans face malnutrition due to scarcity and high food prices.
Cite this Entry
“Shortage.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shortage. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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