as in deficiency
formal
a failure to get what is expected or needed
a shortfall in milk production profit shortfalls
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Recent Examples of shortfall
The shortfall has sparked internal concern about whether the company can keep pace with the massive financial commitments required to build out data centers and secure long-term computing capacity.
—
Yun Li, CNBC, 28 Apr. 2026
Part of the reason may be that San Diego housing officials got an early and public start on dealing with their own growing budget shortfall and expected cuts in city, state and federal funding.
—Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026
The funding shortfall has forced the suspension or shutdown of over 400 health facilities nationwide, including small, single-midwife community clinics, where many of the staff now work without pay or basic supplies.
—Kamala Thiagarajan, NPR, 26 Apr. 2026
Ross says the city faced a $25 million shortfall and cut $15 million from the budget before raising the rate to close the remaining gap.
—Jack Fink, CBS News, 26 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shortfall
Yun Li, CNBC, 28 Apr. 2026
Part of the reason may be that San Diego housing officials got an early and public start on dealing with their own growing budget shortfall and expected cuts in city, state and federal funding.
—Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026
The funding shortfall has forced the suspension or shutdown of over 400 health facilities nationwide, including small, single-midwife community clinics, where many of the staff now work without pay or basic supplies.
—Kamala Thiagarajan, NPR, 26 Apr. 2026
Ross says the city faced a $25 million shortfall and cut $15 million from the budget before raising the rate to close the remaining gap.
—Jack Fink, CBS News, 26 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shortfall
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shortfall
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
-
Washington has run large deficits without spooking the bond market for years.—
Annie Lowrey,
The Atlantic,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Jokic had 27 points, 16 assists and 12 rebounds for Denver, which trimmed its deficit to 3-2 in the best-of-seven series.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shortfall.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shortfall. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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