as in shortages
a falling short of an essential or desirable amount or number
the lack of eligible candidates for the jury kept the trial from getting started
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Recent Examples of lacks
The Athletic Nhl, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
This absence — of God, of love, of plain community spirit — is a metaphor for the whole parish, where everyone is defined by their own lacks and deficiencies, the weaknesses that cause Wicks to despise them and vow to bring down them all.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 6 Sep. 2025
But Davies’s film has a patience and lightness of touch that Scorsese’s lacks, as well as a note-perfect lead in Gillian Anderson.
—Elle Carroll, Vulture, 11 Aug. 2025
Verb
So Vegas has to hope that their forward depth is strong enough to balance out where their star power lacks, relative to other contenders.
—The Athletic Nhl, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
This absence — of God, of love, of plain community spirit — is a metaphor for the whole parish, where everyone is defined by their own lacks and deficiencies, the weaknesses that cause Wicks to despise them and vow to bring down them all.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 6 Sep. 2025
But Davies’s film has a patience and lightness of touch that Scorsese’s lacks, as well as a note-perfect lead in Gillian Anderson.
—Elle Carroll, Vulture, 11 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lacks
Noun
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Food shortages would mean the disappearance of luxuries and the rationing of staples, sapping public morale.—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
23 Oct. 2025
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For rural patients, travel is often an obstacle, and workforce shortages make consistent follow-up difficult.—
Scott R. Schell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
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But Epstein insists the new luxury club won’t reduce general admission space, and renderings show the structure will rise above the existing grounds on the Turn 1 hill.—
Patrick Iversen,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
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O’Dowd insists that government intervention is needed.—
Miles Klee,
Rolling Stone,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
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That has allowed the Dodgers to hide their deficiencies in the bullpen – and ask less of their offense.—
Bill Plunkett,
Oc Register,
23 Oct. 2025
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People with severe deficiencies may require intravenous (IV) magnesium or potassium given in a healthcare setting.—
Brittany Lubeck,
Verywell Health,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
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In between bickering with Rodgers and pining for a young would-be protégé named Elizabeth, played by Margaret Qualley, Hart gossips to the bartender—Eddie, portrayed by Bobby Cannavale—and begs him for just one more pour.—
Kyle McGovern,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Oct. 2025
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The Babadook begs for a sequel, but director Jennifer Kent is mostly positive that won't happen.—
Steven Thrash,
Entertainment Weekly,
19 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Verghese estimated the world requires 593 million hectares of land—which is equivalent to twice the size of India—every year for crop cultivation at current productivity growth rates to meet that challenge.—
Nino Paoli,
Fortune,
28 Oct. 2025
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The Minnesota Vikings are liable to act quickly in their effort to replace backup quarterback Carson Wentz, who will miss the remainder of the season with a shoulder injury that requires surgery to repair.—
Max Dible,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Morgan asks Joanne to help push her to break up with him — in the middle of their engagement party — and the younger sister tries to set her plan in motion.—
Jordana Comiter,
PEOPLE,
24 Oct. 2025
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And then there’s the bigger-picture version, which asks audience members to think both outside the box and the multiplex.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
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All of this exacts a fuzzy psychological toll.—
Charlie Warzel,
The Atlantic,
20 Oct. 2025
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One game for the division (and the division’s one playoff spot)… And Seattle exacts revenge for 2019.—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
Mercury News,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The sharp deterioration in air quality this week comes following celebrations for Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, which traditionally involves the widespread use of firecrackers which release sulfur oxides and nitrogen oxides into the air, as well as harmful heavy metals.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
22 Oct. 2025
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The craft involves manipulating color to create a specific mood, visual style or narrative theme and is widely-used across film, TV and music.—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
22 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Lacks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lacks. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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