LACKS Synonyms: 63 Similar and Opposite Words

lacks 1 of 2

noun

plural of lack

as in shortages

a falling short of an essential or desirable amount or number the lack of eligible candidates for the jury kept the trial from getting started

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

lacks

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of lack

as in insists

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

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 lacks

Noun

Mixing wand finish is oxidizing for mixing lacks replacement with stainless steel material. — Nwa Democrat-Gazette, Arkansas Online, 19 Oct. 2026 Tasked with shepherding his major stars through bombastic performances, Fern’s directing lacks focus. — Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 14 Sep. 2026 While Verse and Alex Wright will man the edges and Denzel Ward remains an elite anchor in the secondary, the front seven lacks proven game-disrupting star power, leaving the defense reliant on scheme and discipline to hold up. — David Troy Outkick, FOXNews.com, 3 Sep. 2026 Long used in commercial kitchens for sinks and countertops, steel sinks contain chromium that provides corrosion-resistance and nickel that adds the brightness pure steel lacks. — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 19 July 2026 The Anaheim Ducks, at least, had a lot of pace and tempo to help make up for what Carlson’s skating lacks at this point in his career. — Shayna Goldman, New York Times, 2 July 2026 Nothing beats a big package or a pipe to compensate for decorations, makeup, and other lacks. — Joyce Mansour, Harpers Magazine, 23 June 2026 Each provides amino acids that the other lacks, so eating them together gives you all the essential amino acids. — Merve Ceylan, Health, 22 June 2026 The artist thought that paintings and drawings have a certain depth that photography on its own lacks. — Kelsey Ables, The Atlantic, 13 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for lacks

Noun

They were frustrated with teacher shortages and poor conditions at schools, including overcrowded classrooms and dilapidated buildings.

— James Cirrone , Brittany Miller, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026
The movement, which began over staffing shortages at one high school, has grown to include students and workers demanding better schools, higher wages and pensions.

— Thomas Adamson, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of shortages

Verb

The administration insists its strategy of inflicting economic pain is working.

— Lauren Morganbesser, semafor.com, 23 Oct. 2026
But Jessica insists that Elizabeth doesn’t know the specific brand of hot dogs and buns she’s already acquired, which means that if, for instance, Elizabeth brought Hawaiian buns and chicken sausages, there would be an inconsistency.

— Jennifer Kim, New Yorker, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of insists

Noun

Growing pains are expected with a new defensive coordinator, but with stats mirroring last season's defensive deficiencies, many eyes are on second-year head coach Brian Schottenheimer.

— Briana Aldridge, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026
The balloon had equipment deficiencies and had not been modified for free flight.

— Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of deficiencies

Verb

When Sita begs Rama to follow a demon disguised as a beautiful golden deer, Rama draws a magical protective circle around the princess and instructs her to stay within the circle’s borders.

— Sohini Sarah Pillai, The Conversation, 14 Oct. 2026
The actress is an enormously entertaining presence, and the premise practically begs for an explosive music video finale.

— Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of begs

Verb

Printing these flexible devices requires depositing two layers at once.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 26 Oct. 2026
Israeli law generally requires citizens to vote in person in the country, with narrow exceptions for diplomats and certain official emissaries abroad.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of requires

Verb

Unlike an ordinary instruction that explicitly asks a robot to perform a harmful action, the trigger appeared as two seemingly unrelated letters attached to an otherwise normal request.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 21 Oct. 2026
The ruling is on hold pending an appeal, and Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson said the program would continue uninterrupted as the state asks the Ohio Supreme Court to review the case.

— Bilin Lin, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of asks

Verb

The determination to do so sometimes exacts a great price, as Gettysburg attests.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 1 Oct. 2026
Onshoring hasn’t taken off as a runaway trend even as the current political administration exacts punishing duties on offshore production markets far and wide.

— Kate Nishimura, Footwear News, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of exacts

Verb

The program involves the city offering incentives to developers to construct housing that is needed in the city, according to city officials.

— Marc Hayot, Arkansas Online, 27 Oct. 2026
One story involves an innocent coal miner, condemned to death in 1877, who left a handprint in his cell at the Carbon County Jail that no amount of sanding or paint has been able to erase.

— Marcus Librizzi, The Conversation, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of involves

Browse Nearby Words

lackluster

lacks

laconic

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Lacks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lacks. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of lacks

noun

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

milieu

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes