1
as in insufficient
not coming up to an expected measure or meeting a particular need
we felt the afternoon television offerings were somewhat lacking in entertainment value
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in absent
not present or in evidence
for the moment anyway, wood for the fireplace is lacking
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of lacking
Mark Carey,
New York Times,
2 July 2026
There is something to be found in both this character and the actress who plays her, but Alcock’s Kara did not have a chance to shine here in a lacking feature, and deserved better.
—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
27 June 2026
An honest review would tell you the coordination was a little lacking in this particular bit of maritime cosplay.
—
Ben Church,
CNN Money,
23 June 2026
While sports governing bodies such as FIFA and the International Olympic Committee have come to recognize that press freedom is an essential part of their commitments to uphold human rights, results are vastly lacking.
—
Gypsy Guillén Kaiser,
Fortune,
23 June 2026
Of those lacking space, dozens of schools have a solution in place — such as an annex that’s already planned, a capital project that’s already sited, or excess space in a building with several schools that can be reallocated — according to the plan.
—
Cayla Bamberger,
New York Daily News,
11 June 2026
Coaches and teammates have struggled to remain in contact with him, and AIyuk’s rare social media posts have been both cryptic and lacking clues about his football ambitions.
—
Caelyn Pender,
Mercury News,
3 June 2026
Not just any type of bus, but a marshrutka—a crowded, rumbling, claustrophobic Soviet holdover minibus, solidly built with steel girding and equally lacking in shock absorbers and seat padding.
—
Irene Zabytko
may 7,
Literary Hub,
7 May 2026
The detainees—from Pakistan, India, Nigeria, Bangladesh, Myanmar and eight other nations—were found in restricted compounds, some lacking passports or proper immigration documentation.
—
Rodney Muhumuza,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
Shuffling the opposition across to make space for a switch to the far side is a viable method of attack, but that can then come at the cost of a central box presence, with Portugal lacking runners beyond the ball.
—
Mark Carey,
New York Times,
2 July 2026
There is something to be found in both this character and the actress who plays her, but Alcock’s Kara did not have a chance to shine here in a lacking feature, and deserved better.
—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
27 June 2026
An honest review would tell you the coordination was a little lacking in this particular bit of maritime cosplay.
—
Ben Church,
CNN Money,
23 June 2026
While sports governing bodies such as FIFA and the International Olympic Committee have come to recognize that press freedom is an essential part of their commitments to uphold human rights, results are vastly lacking.
—
Gypsy Guillén Kaiser,
Fortune,
23 June 2026
Of those lacking space, dozens of schools have a solution in place — such as an annex that’s already planned, a capital project that’s already sited, or excess space in a building with several schools that can be reallocated — according to the plan.
—
Cayla Bamberger,
New York Daily News,
11 June 2026
Coaches and teammates have struggled to remain in contact with him, and AIyuk’s rare social media posts have been both cryptic and lacking clues about his football ambitions.
—
Caelyn Pender,
Mercury News,
3 June 2026
Not just any type of bus, but a marshrutka—a crowded, rumbling, claustrophobic Soviet holdover minibus, solidly built with steel girding and equally lacking in shock absorbers and seat padding.
—
Irene Zabytko
may 7,
Literary Hub,
7 May 2026
The detainees—from Pakistan, India, Nigeria, Bangladesh, Myanmar and eight other nations—were found in restricted compounds, some lacking passports or proper immigration documentation.
—
Rodney Muhumuza,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lacking
Adjective
-
Trump and his supporters have repeatedly pushed Senate leaders to abolish the filibuster to pass the election bill, but there's also insufficient support to drastically change the chamber's procedures.
-
However, inadequate wastewater infrastructure, insufficient funding and a lack of accountability have contributed to one of the worst environmental and public health crises in North America.
Adjective
-
The advisory infrastructure to prevent this outcome is largely absent at the small business level.
-
Twenty-four assemblymembers and 15 senators did not cast a vote, though some of those lawmakers were absent from the vote.
Verb
-
Its dressing—creamy from mayonnaise, subtly sweet from a touch of sugar—is begging for the pickle's salty acidity.
-
The 2026 Toyota Crown is a tame but stylish family car, neither begging you to go off-road or to step on it around country mountains, but instead being an all-around great hauler with the quality Toyota’s known for.
Adjective
-
Rats are burrowing into aid parcels, forcing people to throw away scarce rice or flour supplies.
-
Managing scarcity through digital modeling While deuterium is highly abundant and easily extracted from standard seawater, tritium is exceedingly scarce in nature.
Adjective
-
The cinematic denoument revived some measure of hope in a reeling nation, where the official casualty count announced Saturday climbed to 2,954 dead and 16,592 injured, with thousands remaining missing.
-
In addition, two people remain missing, bringing the total number of Kerr County deaths to 119.
Verb
-
In Cañon City, Colorado, authorities are aiming for a 20% to 30% reduction in water use while asking residents to voluntarily conserve outdoor water consumption.
-
In 1995, the Atlanta Track Club began seeking design submissions and asking the public to select their favorite.
Adjective
-
The complaint alleges that the conduct contributed to two patient deaths linked to inadequate care.
-
Frustration has mounted over what many Venezuelans saw as an inadequate government response, with soldiers, firefighters, police and emergency services struggling to respond to the scale of the disaster.
Verb
-
Latta builds it in deliberately, insisting his Rocks wines carry fruit, floral, and funk components together.
-
Extremists thrive on outrage, insisting that compromise is weakness and political opponents are existential enemies.
Cite this Entry
“Lacking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lacking. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
