Synonyms for

Shortages

Verb / ˈʃɔ:rtʌdʒʌz / / ˈʃɔ:rtɪdʒɪz / Another word for shortages — explore alternatives below. For syllable breakdowns and pronunciation, see this word on Syllablesworld.

Definition

Shortages mean a state or situation in which something needed cannot be obtained in sufficient amounts.

Synonyms & similar words

shortage dearth shortfall deficit famine deficiency scarcity lack dearth insufficiency paucity inadequacy want absence shortfall deficit incompleteness sparsity undersupply restrictedness necessity privation privation

Synonyms by register

Formal

deficiency scarcity insufficiency dearth

Informal

lack not enough pinch tight spot

Literary

want penury

Antonyms

abundance plenty surplus glut profusion bounty excess

Common collocations

  • food shortages
  • energy shortages
  • water shortages
  • housing shortages
  • severe shortages
  • widespread shortages
  • acute shortages
  • supply shortages

Word family

noun shortage
verb shorten
adjective short
adverb shortly

Usage note

Shortages typically refer to a lack of something essential or desired. It is often used in economic or resource-related contexts.

Example sentences

  1. There is a shortage of water in the desert.
  2. The school had a shortage of pencils.
  3. The company had to close due to a shortage of funds.
  4. There was a shortage of gas during the oil crisis.
  5. The hospital had a shortage of medical supplies.

Quotes

  • A shortage of what you need to live -- water, food, oxygen -- is always a bad thing, a threat to your survival. - Lois McMaster Bujold
  • The shortage of money is the root of all evil. - Mark Twain
  • The shortage of time is the biggest reason for not doing what really matters to us. - Richie Norton

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