SHORTAGE Synonyms: 44 Similar and Opposite Words

shortage

noun

ˈshȯr-tij

Definition of shortage

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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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 shortage The first McDonald’s executive chef, René Arend, faced a chicken supply shortage as customers clamored for the new McNuggets. — Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 23 Oct. 2026 Protests that began over underfunded schools and staff shortages have broadened into a movement against soaring living costs, months before France’s presidential election. — Samuel Petrequin, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026 Contributing to the demand is an aging workforce and a shortage of younger drivers needs to replace those who are retiring, Davidson said. — Mike Danahey, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026 Experts on the global fuel market have doubted that the deal will substantially lower prices, given the worldwide diesel shortage far outpaces the quantity Russia will supply. — Washington Post, 22 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for shortage

Recent Examples of Synonyms for shortage

Noun

The demonstrations first erupted last month in a high school in Creteil, southeast of Paris, over a lack of staff.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 23 Oct. 2026
Management is guiding to flat EBITDA margins for the year, as lower-margin acquisitions and a fading FX tailwind offset productivity gains, so don't be worried about a lack of profitability growth in coming quarters.

— Josh Brown,Sean Russo, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of lack

Noun

The coaster’s most recent inspection, on March 16, reported no violations, deficiencies, citations or red tags, according to King.

— Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026
Other diseases that cause similar symptoms and findings include lupus, Lyme disease, fibromyalgia, vitamin B12 deficiency, and less common conditions like neuromyelitis optica and MOG antibody disease.

— Lindsay Karp, STAT, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of deficiency

Noun

Thiagarajan added that the scarcity of chips remains an ongoing issue and that customers such as OpenAI can benefit from having different accelerators to choose from.

— Seema Mody, CNBC, 27 Oct. 2026
The decision to launch the movie in moderate release — rather than limited in just a handful of venues or nationwide on more than 2,000 screens — proved wise because the studio was able to bolster awareness while cultivating a sense of scarcity.

— Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of scarcity

Browse Nearby Words

short

shortage

shortages

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Style

“Shortage.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shortage. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of shortage

noun

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