Definitions

short of

Part of Speech:

All (5) Adjective (4) Preposition (1)

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barring adj.
depleted adj.
insufficient adj.
minus adj.
except prep.

ADJECTIVE

barring

Synonyms

STRONG

bar discounting excepting excluding

WEAK

apart from aside from but for other than outside of save for with the exception of

ADJECTIVE

depleted

Synonyms

STRONGEST

drained reduced vacant weakened

STRONG

bare collapsed decreased depreciated emptied lessened sapped sold spent used wasted worn

WEAK

all in bleary destitute devoid of effete far-gone in want kaput out of pooped out sold out sucked out used-up washed out without resources worn-out

Antonyms

STRONGEST

energized full

WEAK

augmented enlarged increased unconsumed unused

ADJECTIVE

insufficient

Synonyms

STRONGEST

deficient faulty inadequate incomplete meager poor scant scarce unsatisfactory

WEAK

bereft defective destitute devoid drained dry failing imperfect incapable incommensurate incompetent infrequent minus out of rare short shy thin too little too late unample unfinished unfitted unqualified wanting

Antonyms

STRONGEST

adequate enough perfect satisfactory strong sufficient

WEAK

ample

ADJECTIVE

minus

Synonyms

STRONG

less negative

WEAK

deficient smaller subtracting

Antonyms

WEAK

plus

PREPOSITION

except

Synonyms

STRONGEST

save

STRONG

bar barring excepting excluding exempting lacking omitting rejecting saving

WEAK

apart from aside from besides but exclusive of if not leaving out minus not for outside of with the exception of without

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.

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short of

Retail sales dropped by 0.6% last month, the Commerce Department reported Friday, falling short of the 0.1% increase that economists had expected.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026

Even with $15,000 in charitable giving, their deductions fall short of the standard deduction, so they take it and their giving produces no tax benefit.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 14, 2026

McInnes insists that, despite millions spent on nine additions to his squad already this summer, they are still short of the necessary quality.

From BBC ● Aug. 13, 2026

Taipei also accuses Beijing of using a range of "greyzone" methods -- tactics that fall short of an act of war -- including cyberattacks to harass the island.

From Barron's ● Aug. 13, 2026

It fell short of the actual southern end of the Appalachian Mountain chain by 150 miles and of the northern end by nearer 700.

From "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson

short of

Example Sentences

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Related Words