as in shortage
a falling short of an essential or desirable amount or number
a paucity of useful answers to the problem of traffic congestion at rush hour
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Recent Examples of paucity
At a Cannes where some have grumbled about a paucity of studio movies (and thus stars), the absence of Scarlett Johansson at last night’s premiere of Paper Tiger was notable.
—
Tom Tapp, Deadline, 17 May 2026
Experts have warned that this paucity of water, already a significant problem in Iran’s typically arid environment, will be exacerbated by climate change.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 8 May 2026
Money was counted daily, spoken of incessantly, felt in its paucity like a ghost in each room.
—Literary Hub, 24 Apr. 2026
If the discussion had a certain DIY quality to it, that reflects the paucity of medical literature on what lightning does to the body.
—Jacob Stern, The Atlantic, 16 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for paucity
Tom Tapp, Deadline, 17 May 2026
Experts have warned that this paucity of water, already a significant problem in Iran’s typically arid environment, will be exacerbated by climate change.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 8 May 2026
Money was counted daily, spoken of incessantly, felt in its paucity like a ghost in each room.
—Literary Hub, 24 Apr. 2026
If the discussion had a certain DIY quality to it, that reflects the paucity of medical literature on what lightning does to the body.
—Jacob Stern, The Atlantic, 16 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for paucity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paucity
Noun
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The Crimean peninsula has had periodic fuel shortages from Ukrainian strikes before, but the current crisis is the worst since its 2014 annexation.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
21 June 2026
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Novelli said one of the reasons many kids in New Haven are still behind in reading is a shortage of pre-kindergarten education.—
Theo Peck-Suzuki,
Hartford Courant,
21 June 2026
Noun
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Detainees at the facility have reported a lack of access to lawyers and poor physical conditions, including worms in the food, toilets that do not flush, floors flooding with fecal waste and insects everywhere.—
Landon Mion,
FOXNews.com,
18 June 2026
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In today’s food environment, addiction to UPFs should not be written off as a lack of personal willpower, said Forman, who researches ultraprocessed food addiction.—
Sandee LaMotte,
CNN Money,
17 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Paucity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paucity. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.
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