as in shortage
a falling short of an essential or desirable amount or number
there's a famine of good general practitioners in many rural areas
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Recent Examples of famine
But witnesses said thousands had gathered near the sites anyway, desperate for food as Israel's blockade and military campaign have driven the territory to the brink of famine.
—
Wafaa Shurafa, Arkansas Online, 15 June 2025
Starvation, in which there is a lack of protein and all other nutrients (e.g., during a famine), can cause weight loss of 50% or more in children.2
Weight gain from protein deficiency is seen with nephrotic syndrome (discussed above) due to fluid retention.
—Jonathan Purtell, Verywell Health, 13 June 2025
First-generation Vietnamese and Cambodian refugees, for example, survived war, famine and genocide.
—Claire Wang, NBC news, 11 June 2025
Israel barred all food and other supplies from entering Gaza for 2 ½ months pending the start of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation — a blockade that has brought the population to the brink of famine.
—Julia Frankel, Los Angeles Times, 7 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for famine
Wafaa Shurafa, Arkansas Online, 15 June 2025
Starvation, in which there is a lack of protein and all other nutrients (e.g., during a famine), can cause weight loss of 50% or more in children.2
Weight gain from protein deficiency is seen with nephrotic syndrome (discussed above) due to fluid retention.
—Jonathan Purtell, Verywell Health, 13 June 2025
First-generation Vietnamese and Cambodian refugees, for example, survived war, famine and genocide.
—Claire Wang, NBC news, 11 June 2025
Israel barred all food and other supplies from entering Gaza for 2 ½ months pending the start of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation — a blockade that has brought the population to the brink of famine.
—Julia Frankel, Los Angeles Times, 7 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for famine
Recent Examples of Synonyms for famine
Noun
-
To address the critical worker shortage, Massachusetts must prioritize benefits and training and improve pay for DSPs.—
Brian Cusack,
Boston Herald,
25 June 2025
-
There is a growing shortage of drivers, rising costs, and relentless demand for faster deliveries.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
25 June 2025
Noun
-
A lot of people watch Fox or MSNBC or ABC to get their news, but as far as programming that’s reality-based or even scripted even, there’s a lack of quality content that’s produced well for that (conservative) audience.—
Peter Kiefer,
HollywoodReporter,
18 June 2025
-
The difference in the workout actual total has been the Heat’s lack of a selection in the June 26 second round of the two-round draft.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
18 June 2025
Noun
-
Despite that drought, there is a long history of Game 7s in the NBA Finals.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
22 June 2025
-
The game got off to an ominous start when Zach Neto led off with a double, and then the next three hitters went groundout, strikeout, strikeout, running the drought to 0 for 26 with runners in scoring position.—
Jeff Fletcher,
Oc Register,
21 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Famine.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/famine. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.
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