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
The United Nations says funding cuts are already causing the dismantling of health services, including layoffs, drug shortages and disruptions to research.
—
Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 6 Mar. 2025
The hiring surge was aimed at rectifying years-long staffing shortages that forced veterans to wait months to receive healthcare.
—Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA TODAY, 5 Mar. 2025
Freddie Mac estimates that there is a shortage of 3.7 million units in the U.S. Houses can’t be built overnight, which means housing inflation will remain an issue for some time.
—Chris Gunster, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2025
Governments simply cannot tolerate disruptions to, shortages of, or sharp price increases in energy supplies.
—Daniel Yergin, Foreign Affairs, 25 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shortage
Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 6 Mar. 2025
The hiring surge was aimed at rectifying years-long staffing shortages that forced veterans to wait months to receive healthcare.
—Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA TODAY, 5 Mar. 2025
Freddie Mac estimates that there is a shortage of 3.7 million units in the U.S. Houses can’t be built overnight, which means housing inflation will remain an issue for some time.
—Chris Gunster, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2025
Governments simply cannot tolerate disruptions to, shortages of, or sharp price increases in energy supplies.
—Daniel Yergin, Foreign Affairs, 25 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shortage
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shortage
Noun
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Despite weaker winds and cooler temperatures Sunday, dry air combined with dry vegetation due to lack of recent rainfall are keeping the wildfire danger high across the Carolinas and northeast Georgia.—
Karina Tsui,
CNN,
2 Mar. 2025
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While winds will be much weaker and temperatures much cooler, dry vegetation due to lack of recent rainfall combined with the dry air will once again enhance the wildfire danger across the western Carolinas and northeast Georgia.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
2 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Iodine deficiency can be serious, but is eminently treatable.—
Ellen Cushing,
The Atlantic,
8 Mar. 2025
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However, maintaining adequate levels of B vitamins and magnesium may prevent the development of neuropathy due to nutrient deficiencies.—
Amy Brownstein, MS, RDN,
Verywell Health,
7 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Copies sold for hundreds of dollars, its scarcity only adding to its mythic appeal.—
Rachel Hills,
Vogue,
4 Mar. 2025
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Focus on scarcity tactics that feel real, not manufactured.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes,
4 Mar. 2025
Noun
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That, plus 13 turnovers, added up to a 64-47 halftime deficit for Brooklyn.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
1 Mar. 2025
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Driving the news: The House GOP narrowly passed its budget resolution this week, meaning its quest to reduce the federal deficit by somewhere between $1.5 and $2 trillion — while extending trillions of dollars in tax cuts passed during Trump's first term — lives another week.—
Caitlin Owens,
Axios,
28 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shortage.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shortage. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
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