undermanned
Too few workers
Undermanned means lacking sufficient personnel to operate effectively.
A ship, department, or military unit that is undermanned doesn't have enough people to handle its workload or fulfill its mission: The hospital was chronically undermanned during the night shift.
The word applies to organizations and operations, not to the people themselves.
Insufficient personnel available
- vacanciesUnfilled positions available
- shortageDeficient supply of necessities
- workforceAll available workers
- recruitingEnlisting new members
turnover · attrition · hirings · resignations · retention · labor · overworked · burnout
Below required quantity
- inadequateNot sufficient for purpose
- lackingBeing without something
- shortOf limited extent
- sparseThinly scattered or distributed
meager · scarce · limited · minimal · depleted · wanting · bare-bones · skeleton
Inferior in armament
- outnumberedExceeded in count
- outflankedBypassed at the flanks
- besiegedSurrounded by attackers
- overrunSpread throughout uncontrollably
surrounded · encircled · reinforcements · garrison · outpost · reserves · defensive · retreat
Beyond sustainable capacity
- overwhelmedDefeated by sheer volume
- overburdenedCarrying more than manageable
- stretchedPulled to lengthen
- taxedHad levy imposed
pressured · swamped · depleted · exhausted · fatigued · drained · stressed · overworked
short-staffed
Insufficient personnel available
- vacanciesUnfilled positions available
- shortageDeficient supply of necessities
- workforceAll available workers
recruiting · turnover · attrition · hirings · resignations · retention · labor · overworked · burnout · overtime
insufficient
Below required quantity
- inadequateNot sufficient for purpose
- lackingBeing without something
- shortOf limited extent
sparse · meager · scarce · limited · minimal · depleted · wanting · bare-bones · skeleton · thin
outgunned
Inferior in armament
- outnumberedExceeded in count
- outflankedBypassed at the flanks
- besiegedSurrounded by attackers
overrun · surrounded · encircled · reinforcements · garrison · outpost · reserves · defensive · retreat
overextended
Beyond sustainable capacity
- overwhelmedDefeated by sheer volume
- overburdenedCarrying more than manageable
- stretchedPulled to lengthen
taxed · pressured · swamped · depleted · exhausted · fatigued · drained · stressed · overworked · burdened
- numerical disadvantageoutnumbered, shorthanded, outgunned, skeleton crew, man down
- military forcesarmy, allied forces, soldiers, troops, coalition forces
undermannedoverstaffed
Having surplus employees
overmanned · fully staffed · adequate · staffed up · equal