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
Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 4 May 2026
On the other hand, the playoffs showed how lacking Atlanta is in some areas.
—John Hollinger, New York Times, 1 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
If your yard is a bit lacking in colorful birds, adding a feeder can help attract all sorts of them.
—Brittany Vanderbill, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Apr. 2026
But the upper frequencies are still slightly lacking.
—Mark Knapp, PC Magazine, 30 Mar. 2026
Loro Parque, a zoo on the island of Tenerife, offers a clean and safe environment, expert care and proper mental and social stimulation that Wikie and Keijo are desperately lacking.
—Valerie Greene, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 Mar. 2026
Financial vulnerability in Cook County has declined modestly since 2022, with fewer households reporting having less than a week of savings and fewer lacking confidence in reaching long-term goals.
—Jennifer Tescher, Chicago Tribune, 5 Mar. 2026
And don’t give me the lacking pass protection nonsense.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 2 Mar. 2026
Adjective
With Francisco Lindor, Jorge Polanco and Ronny Mauricio all injured, the options are somewhat lacking.
—Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 4 May 2026
On the other hand, the playoffs showed how lacking Atlanta is in some areas.
—John Hollinger, New York Times, 1 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
If your yard is a bit lacking in colorful birds, adding a feeder can help attract all sorts of them.
—Brittany Vanderbill, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Apr. 2026
But the upper frequencies are still slightly lacking.
—Mark Knapp, PC Magazine, 30 Mar. 2026
Loro Parque, a zoo on the island of Tenerife, offers a clean and safe environment, expert care and proper mental and social stimulation that Wikie and Keijo are desperately lacking.
—Valerie Greene, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 Mar. 2026
Financial vulnerability in Cook County has declined modestly since 2022, with fewer households reporting having less than a week of savings and fewer lacking confidence in reaching long-term goals.
—Jennifer Tescher, Chicago Tribune, 5 Mar. 2026
And don’t give me the lacking pass protection nonsense.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 2 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lacking
Adjective
-
The Salt Lake County district attorney’s office and the Draper City prosecutor both declined to file charges against Paul in April, citing insufficient evidence to prove allegations beyond a reasonable doubt.—
Senior Television,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2026
-
The Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office and the Draper City Prosecutor both declined to file charges against Paul in April, citing insufficient evidence to prove allegations beyond a reasonable doubt.—
Luke Chinman,
PEOPLE,
1 May 2026
Adjective
-
Mira began absent-mindedly rolling and unrolling a fine-tooth comb through her curls.—
Anna Wiener,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
Like their Senate colleagues, the 49-member House GOP caucus was sharply split with 27 voting yes, 21 no, and one absent.—
Staff Report,
Hartford Courant,
3 May 2026
Verb
-
The deck space is bliss for morning coffee moments, and the firepit is begging for s’mores.—
Erika Owen,
Architectural Digest,
1 May 2026
-
My friend has been begging me to go on a trip together for over a year now.—
Harriette Cole,
Mercury News,
1 May 2026
Adjective
-
During that time, Cubans lost an average of 5% to 25% of their body weight, according to one study published in a medical journal, with goods including bread, milk, eggs and chicken in scarce quantities.—
Danica Coto,
Fortune,
3 May 2026
-
Think space-saving packing solutions, genius tech that keeps your devices alive when outlets are scarce, and comfort items that make economy feel a little more bearable.—
Chaise Sanders,
Travel + Leisure,
3 May 2026
Adjective
-
Jerry also comes back, having escaped Fergal and now in search of his missing friend.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
1 May 2026
-
Chronister said content on Abugharbieh’s phone had been erased, but a forensic examination revealed disturbing searches in the days before Bristy and Limon went missing.—
Mike Schneider,
Sun Sentinel,
1 May 2026
Adjective
-
Local advocates say needless removals and inadequate watering are threatening decades of neighborhood cooling and environmental health benefits.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
7 May 2026
-
His grounds for appeal included that Nauru’s medical services were inadequate to treat his severe asthma.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
This is the kind of invention that is going to become increasingly important in an economy that is asking more of the physical world.—
Reed Albergotti,
semafor.com,
6 May 2026
-
There’s something deeply American about the constant push between frustration and hope, between asking what the hell is going on and still believing there's something worth fighting for.—
Time,
Time,
6 May 2026
Adjective
-
Cloudflare projected revenue of $664 million to $665 million for the second quarter, which was lower than the $666 million Wall Street anticipated.—
Queenie Wong,
Los Angeles Times,
8 May 2026
-
That is why trust in public health is at an all-time low.—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lacking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lacking. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
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