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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.

Ms. Rodríguez herself faces insurmountable obstacles, beginning with her utter lack of legitimacy.

From The Wall Street Journal

Fletcher says a lack of spare time since stepping in means he has not had chance to speak to his squad individually.

From BBC

“We only have so much information, and you can approach that lack of information in good faith or bad faith,” Taylor said.

From Los Angeles Times

At Schiphol airport, many travellers complained of long lines and a lack of information.

From BBC

But key terms—“disinformation,” “propaganda,” and “conspiracy theory”—lack precise definitions in EU law.

From The Wall Street Journal

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.