lack

[lak] / læk /

NOUN

deficiency, need

Synonyms

STRONGEST

absence dearth inadequacy loss paucity poverty reduction scarcity shortage shortcoming shortfall

STRONG

abridgement curtailment decrease default defect deficit depletion deprivation destitution distress exigency exiguity inferiority insufficiency meagerness miss necessity privation retrenchment scantiness shortness shrinkage shrinking slightness stint want

WEAK

insufficience

Antonyms

STRONGEST

abundance affluence enough excess plenty success sufficiency

STRONG

addition advantage enlargement expansion increase perfection

WEAK

extra lot plethora profusion surplus

VERB

do not have

Synonyms

STRONGEST

need require want

STRONG

minus miss out

WEAK

be deficient in be short of be without have need of hurting for not got too little too late

Antonyms

STRONGEST

dislike have

Usage

What are other ways to say lack? The verb lack means to be without or to have less than a desirable quantity of something: to lack courage, sufficient money, enough members to make a quorum. Need often suggests urgency, stressing the necessity of supplying what is lacking: to need an operation, better food, a match to light the fire. Require, which expresses necessity as strongly as need, occurs most frequently in serious or formal contexts: Your presence at the hearing is required. Successful experimentation requires careful attention to detail.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Fans have complained about the lack of a brand new Mario or Zelda game and, as things stand, neither has been announced yet.

From BBC

“I’m complex and I’m deep and I get hurt easily,” Mr. Chase says in explaining his sour disposition and, indirectly, utter lack of empathy.

From The Wall Street Journal

A lack of policy support and fewer firms going public in 2025 are also issues that “can be really challenging for those companies in being able to scale,” she said.

From The Wall Street Journal

Mr. Mamdani’s appeal wasn’t primarily to the working poor, but to professional-class voters who felt cheated by their lack of success despite strong credentials.

From The Wall Street Journal

While October’s lack of government data complicates the comparison, the gain is slower the 3.5% wage increase in November.

From Barron's

lack

Usage

Example Sentences

Related Words