lacking

1. gerundparticiplepresentpresent participle and gerund of lack

plural lackings

1. The absence of something that is desirable or otherwise ought to be present.

   Cagliostro, however, whatever his moral lackings, did not lack spirit; he was not the man to succumb to this kind of coercion.

   1914, Sax Rohmer, The Romance of Sorcery

   Synonyms: lack

comparative more lacking · superlative most lacking

1. Missing or not having enough of (a good quality, etc).

   This cheese is lacking in pungency.

   2 more examples

   The team was lacking in stamina and lost the match decidedly.

   A few of the pieces of this jigsaw puzzle are lacking.

   Synonyms: absent, awanting, bereft of, deficient of, deprived of, destitute of, devoid of, leer