adj. 25B6; adjective
the defences were found wanting : DEFICIENT, inadequate, lacking, insufficient, imperfect, unacceptable, flawed, faulty, defective, unsound, substandard, inferior, second-rate, poor, shoddy; Brit. informal not much cop.
the kneecap is wanting in amphibians : ABSENT, missing, lacking, non-existent.
millions were left wanting for food : WITHOUT, lacking, deprived of, devoid of, bereft of, in need of; deficient in, short on; informal minus.
sufficient, present.