Synonyms for shortage
Most common
Synonyms by meaning
Noun
1. Dearth
dearth, lack, scarcity, deficiency, famine, inadequacy, insufficiency, scantiness
2. Deficit
Other
Definitions
- n. 1
A lack or deficiency; an insufficient amount.
Forms
- Plural
- shortages → dearths, lacks, scarcities, deficiencies…
Example sentences
- lack I had to leave out this problem for lack of space.
- deficiency AIDS means "Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome".
- scarcity Water scarcity has become more common in Algeria.
- dearth There is no dearth of good will, only of courage.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| shortage | falling | |
| lack | steady | |
| deficiency | falling | |
| scarcity | falling | |
| dearth | steady | |
| ullage | falling |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 4 letters
- lack1
- 6 letters
- famine2, dearth1, ullage
- 7 letters
- deficit3
- 8 letters
- scarcity3
- 10 letters
- deficiency4, inadequacy5, scantiness3
- 13 letters
- insufficiency5
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (famine2 = 2 syllables).