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
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Recent Examples of lacking
Troy Renck, Denver Post, 9 Jan. 2026
These are all signs of a lacking musclespan, whereas not noticing any difficulties in everyday tasks suggests a stronger trajectory.
—Erica Sloan, SELF, 11 Dec. 2025
Instead, safety measures, staffing and medical training were all lacking.
—Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 4 Dec. 2025
But Wild coach John Hynes noted in training camp that Jiricek’s decision making in the heat of the battle in the defensive zone is sometimes lacking.
—Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 27 Oct. 2025
With a severly lacking ability to go for big plays on both offense and defense, former NFL quarterback Chris Simms belives the Bills will not be able to compete in the AFC in 2025.
—James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Oct. 2025
Even well into the 1930s, America’s defense machinery was woefully lacking, especially in the critical transport of material and personnel.
—Robert Ross, Robb Report, 17 Oct. 2025
And every year is subject to the quality of the free-agent class, and 2021’s starting pitching market was especially lacking.
—Will Sammon, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
Art that truly centres girlhood, meanwhile, had too often been dismissed as sentimental or lacking intellectual rigor.
—Caterina De Biasio, Vogue, 25 Sep. 2025
Adjective
Nothing undermines success like a lack of stability, and of course, a lacking quarterback.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for lacking
Adjective
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The decision followed a monthslong investigation by the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office that concluded there was insufficient evidence to support criminal charges.—
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Yet most national climate targets remain outdated and insufficient.—
Adjective
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And when Mamdani was publicly sworn in, absent was House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, a fellow New Yorker, who had only reluctantly endorsed the former Queens assemblyman.—
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Though some years past have been ripe with political commentary on stage, the topic was notably absent this year, with speech givers opting to shout-out their families and people inside the Globes ballroom as opposed to the weighty issues outside of it.—
Verb
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Those in charge — as in charge as anybody can be with every policy just a judge’s ruling away from being null and void — have been begging Congress for help for years, but to no avail.—
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His parents also pleaded with him to drop the weapon while begging the cops not to shoot their son.—
Adjective
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The capacity for attention on books is so scarce, more so every year.—
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And the buildout is putting stress on local water resources that communities worry will cause shortages, with 160 new facilities located in areas with scarce supply, according to Bloomberg.—
Adjective
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Perilous Voyages More than 5,100 Rohingya have taken boats to leave Myanmar and Bangladesh between January and early November this year, with nearly 600 people reported dead or missing, according to data from the UN Refugee Agency.—
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As of Friday, nine people remain missing, who are believed to have been in the area at the time of the crash, ABC News and WAVE reported.—
Adjective
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The National Transportation Safety Board in June said inadequate training and management oversight had been among the problems at the company, according to its investigation into what led to the door plug blowout in January 2024.—
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Right before the gunfire at Brown, the suspect stopped in a bathroom at the Barus & Holley building, where a man – later identified as John, per a police affidavit – noticed his clothes seemed inadequate for the cold weather.—
Verb
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Police are asking anyone with information to contact them.—
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Deliberations are ongoing and the company could decide not to proceed with a listing, the people said, asking not to be identified as the information isn’t public.—
Adjective
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The president argued that inflation was already low enough to start cutting rates.—
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There’s something motivating about having this low, electronic drumbeat pushing you along, trying to go faster and faster and faster.—
Cite this Entry
“Lacking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lacking. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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