Synonyms

lacking

American

[lak-ing] / ˈlæk ɪŋ /

preposition

being without; not having; wanting; less.

Lacking equipment, the laboratory couldn't undertake the research project.

adjective

wanting; deficient.

He was found lacking in stamina.

Etymology

Origin of lacking

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English; lack + -ing ²

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.

It’s why the conspiracies claiming we never went there are so unappealing, not to mention completely lacking in evidence.

From Salon • Apr. 7, 2026

Cervantes accuses officers of pushing forward with an arrest despite lacking probable cause and building a case against her based on false statements.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 7, 2026

When the monolingual video condolence was released, Mr. Carney said he was “very disappointed” and accused Mr. Rousseau of lacking judgment.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

Phil Foden: A lot of effort but in a match lacking quality, he was not able to show his best.

From BBC • Mar. 27, 2026

The second is that societies lacking the invention find themselves at a disadvantage vis-a-vis the inventing society, and they become overwhelmed and replaced if the disadvantage is sufficiently great.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023