SHORTCOMING Synonyms: 38 Similar and Opposite Words

shortcoming

noun

ˈshȯrt-ˌkə-miŋ

Definition of shortcoming

as in weakness

a defect in character a wife who never tires of listing her husband's perceived shortcomings

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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 shortcoming So much so that it’s been amply speculated his negligible production was about shortcomings. — Kansas City Star, 20 Oct. 2026 After realizing the shortcomings of tracking titles, the challenge for All Raise is to figure out what to track instead. — Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 19 Oct. 2026 By the August meeting, shortcomings in the rollout were identified. — Arkansas Online, 18 Oct. 2026 Jenae and Shalanda walk Brittany through how our aging power grid - coupled with climate change, the strain of new technologies, and a lack of investment - exposes the systemic shortcomings that very well might leave all of us in the dark. — October 16, NPR, 16 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for shortcoming

Recent Examples of Synonyms for shortcoming

Noun

Contrary to Trump’s understanding of leadership, empathy doesn’t equate to weakness but to strength.

— Kathleen Parker, Washington Post, 23 Oct. 2026
However, the company expects future models to discover weaknesses that remain unknown today.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of weakness

Noun

Confession is looked at as some kind of sin and it’s associated with shame.

— Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 23 Oct. 2026
Lamb, who was once floated for the service’s top job, treats his current position as a kind of penance for past sins, both for himself and for his underlings.

— Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of sin

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

In the documentation, the company is candid about its failings.

— Frank Landymore, Futurism, 14 Oct. 2026
The Army report highlighted how the air traffic controller at Reagan National Airport could have prevented the crash, but also acknowledged the military’s own failings and other contributing factors.

— ABC News, ABC News, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of failing

Browse Nearby Words

short-circuits

shortcoming

shortcomings

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“Shortcoming.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shortcoming. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of shortcoming

noun

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