as in shortage
a falling short of an essential or desirable amount or number
a growing deficit in the number of hours devoted to sleep
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of deficit
The Heat showed some fight by cutting the deficit to three points with 52.6 seconds left.
—
Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 14 Feb. 2025
At the time, officials projected a $158 million deficit for the 2025-26 fiscal year.
—Grace Hase, The Mercury News, 13 Feb. 2025
Four turnovers in five minutes, coupled with a sudden cold streak, allowed San Antonio to cut its deficit to 10 points multiple times in the third quarter.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 13 Feb. 2025
New Orleans cut the deficit to two when a Sacramento turnover led to a corner 3-pointer from Antonio Reeves with 5:36 to go, but a long 3 by LaVine, a couple of inside baskets by Sabonis and a turnaround jumper by DeRozan helped the Kings hold on for the win.
—Jason Anderson, Sacramento Bee, 13 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for deficit 
Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 14 Feb. 2025
At the time, officials projected a $158 million deficit for the 2025-26 fiscal year.
—Grace Hase, The Mercury News, 13 Feb. 2025
Four turnovers in five minutes, coupled with a sudden cold streak, allowed San Antonio to cut its deficit to 10 points multiple times in the third quarter.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 13 Feb. 2025
New Orleans cut the deficit to two when a Sacramento turnover led to a corner 3-pointer from Antonio Reeves with 5:36 to go, but a long 3 by LaVine, a couple of inside baskets by Sabonis and a turnaround jumper by DeRozan helped the Kings hold on for the win.
—Jason Anderson, Sacramento Bee, 13 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for deficit
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deficit
Noun
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Local leaders hope the recruitment campaign will help attract candidates amid a nationwide shortage of doctors.—
Daniel Chang,
CBS News,
11 Feb. 2025
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But if the tariffs cause local shortages, prices could spike by more than 30 cents per gallon.—
Spencer Kimball,
CNBC,
11 Feb. 2025
Noun
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There’s also no interior light, and for the price, that lack of a light, combined with the missing preheat feature, kept this one out of our top picks.—
Emily Farris,
Bon Appétit,
18 Feb. 2025
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The lack of a swift deal, the furore and the anxiety of the past week are ultimately in Putin’s interests.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN,
18 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Anemia: Blood disorders or vitamin C deficiency (scurvy) can cause chronic anemia (low red blood cells), reducing the blood's oxygen-carrying ability.—
Brandi Jones, MSN-Ed,
Health,
7 Feb. 2025
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Unless Van Nistelrooy adopts a more pragmatic approach, even switching to a back five to hide the individual deficiencies these players possess defensively, Leicester may have a long wait to visit Everton’s new home.—
Rob Tanner,
The Athletic,
3 Feb. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Deficit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deficit. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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