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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Recent Examples of shortage
There’s been no shortage of music biopics, especially since the pandemic.
—
Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 26 Apr. 2026
Almost every state faces a shortage of special education teachers.
—Laurie Stern, NPR, 26 Apr. 2026
Now, five graduates are employed this school year as paraprofessionals, laying the groundwork for more young people to become teacher aides, a shortage area, and get a foot in the door of the city’s sprawling school system.
—Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 26 Apr. 2026
The ripple effect of this shortage is far-reaching.
—Ryan Von Weller, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shortage
Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 26 Apr. 2026
Almost every state faces a shortage of special education teachers.
—Laurie Stern, NPR, 26 Apr. 2026
Now, five graduates are employed this school year as paraprofessionals, laying the groundwork for more young people to become teacher aides, a shortage area, and get a foot in the door of the city’s sprawling school system.
—Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 26 Apr. 2026
The ripple effect of this shortage is far-reaching.
—Ryan Von Weller, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shortage
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shortage
Noun
-
Goldman Sachs estimated that Qatar could see its GDP plunge by 14%, citing its lack of alternative export channels to the blockaded Strait of Hormuz.—
Kelsey Warner,
semafor.com,
29 Apr. 2026
-
This Fire sign is, after all, notorious for its lack of a filter… and the 24-year-old singer just so happens to have her sun, Venus and Pluto here.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
While many people get enough potassium from a balanced diet, some are more prone to a potassium deficiency.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
24 Apr. 2026
-
The Texas health department outlined the issues in an emergency plan deficiency letter in response to the camp’s application for a license to reopen.—
Marlene Lenthang,
NBC news,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The scarcity and rising cost of natural gas doesn’t worry me much, because most of my energy comes from the solar panels on my roof.—
Tom Caffery,
The Orlando Sentinel,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Like, somebody that has lived with scarcity.—
Rebecca Rubin,
Variety,
30 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shortage.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shortage. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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