How to Use shortcoming in a Sentence

shortcoming

noun
  • The main shortcoming of this camera is that it uses up batteries quickly.
  • Her lack of attention to detail is her biggest shortcoming.
  • This shortcoming shows up in ways both big and small.
    — David Greising, Chicago Tribune, 15 Aug. 2025
  • In terms of what makes a good movie great, this is a shortcoming.
    — Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 27 Feb. 2023
  • While the front row is great, the car shows its shortcomings in the back seat.
    — Eric Bangeman, Ars Technica, 18 Oct. 2018
  • And his was the first of many to point out the blocking shortcomings.
    — Chris Solari, Detroit Free Press, 7 Sep. 2019
  • Duren has been aware of his shortcomings over the last two seasons.
    — Hunter Patterson, New York Times, 18 May 2026
  • But my reading showed me that this world view has its shortcomings.
    — Christopher Beha, New Yorker, 14 Feb. 2026
  • Some of the same shortcomings were present until the very end.
    — Joseph Duarte, Houston Chronicle, 30 Nov. 2019
  • That’s not to say Wahlberg is the movie’s sole shortcoming.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 30 Sep. 2025
  • The one real shortcoming is the score, which lays things on a bit thick.
    — Mark Feeney, BostonGlobe.com, 12 May 2022
  • Just read our review and be aware of its shortcomings.
    — Antonio G. Di Benedetto, The Verge, 23 June 2026
  • Who breathed down their backs, passing along their fears and shortcomings.
    — Joel Lorenzi, New York Times, 7 May 2026
  • That was a shortcoming of us today.
    — Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Jan. 2026
  • Shildt is rarely candid about his team’s shortcomings.
    — Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Aug. 2025
  • And again, a lot of shortcomings came to the fore Sunday.
    — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 30 Sep. 2025
  • Cut people some slack and forgive their shortcomings – and your own, too!
    — Heller McAlpin, The Christian Science Monitor, 10 Feb. 2025
  • This may sound reasonable, but the process has its the shortcomings.
    — Joshua Mezrich, STAT, 2 Mar. 2024
  • These shortcomings can erode trust in polls and survey research.
    — Ambuj Tewari, The Conversation, 27 May 2026
  • But that may not be indicative of a shortcoming.
    — Nicki Jhabvala, New York Times, 23 June 2026
  • His defensive shortcomings were laid bare at the worst times.
    — Mike Vorkunov, New York Times, 21 May 2026
  • Neither of their shortcomings should come as a surprise.
    — Cerys Jones, New York Times, 28 Feb. 2026
  • Japan, like any country, has its own challenges and shortcomings.
    — Stephen Wade, Chicago Tribune, 30 Apr. 2026
  • If there are shortcomings, sunlight will help correct them.
    — Reardon Sullivan, Baltimore Sun, 19 Feb. 2026
  • Willis, at the very least, won’t openly admit his shortcomings.
    — Miami Herald, 20 May 2026
  • Énard’s leading men are students of their own shortcomings.
    — Christopher Byrd, The New York Review of Books, 23 May 2026
  • But the crisis could also test some of the shortcomings of the start-up ecosystem.
    — Washington Post, 24 Mar. 2020
  • There’s a new type of bond fund that aims to solve a shortcoming of traditional bond funds.
    — Jeff Brown, WSJ, 1 Feb. 2019
  • But the shortcomings of the air traffic control system have been known for decades.
    — Josh Funk, Chicago Tribune, 9 May 2025
  • The one shortcoming that may be a deal breaker for some travelers is the lack of a true spa and pool.
    — Larry Olmsted, Forbes, 3 Sep. 2021

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'shortcoming.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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