FAMINE Synonyms: 44 Similar and Opposite Words

famine

noun

ˈfa-mən

Definition of famine

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of famine Yemen, one of the world’s poorest countries, is still recovering from the civil war that plunged parts of the nation into famine. — ABC News, 14 July 2026 The downstream effects of that cascade can bring devastation to some places, such as by raising the risks of famines, fires and floods in Southeast Asia. — Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 10 July 2026 When the world experienced what was likely one of the strongest El Niño events in the historical record in the late 1870s, the climate pattern coincided with widespread drought, crop failures and a global famine that killed millions. — Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 7 July 2026 Jackson Merrill continued a season of feast or famine by going 2-for-4 last night. — Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for famine

Recent Examples of Synonyms for famine

Noun

Russia has launched several large-scale attacks on Kyiv in recent weeks as Ukraine faces a shortage of Patriot air defense missiles, which are its most effective means of intercepting Russian ballistic missiles.

— ABC News, ABC News, 19 July 2026
Moscow seeks to capitalize on this shortage with ballistic missile strikes in early July killing dozens of Ukrainian civilians including children, and wounding hundreds more.

— Ihor N. Stelmach, Hartford Courant, 19 July 2026

Definition of shortage

Noun

The studies, and lack of follow-through, raise the issue about what could have averted the still-climbing death toll, and what steps need to be taken to prepare for an inevitable next earthquake.

— Syra Ortiz-Blanes, Miami Herald, 24 July 2026
People on social media reacted to the Observer’s report with outrage at CMPD’s lack of transparency and disbelief in their conclusion, as well as gratitude to the Observer for digging into the subject.

— Caitlin McGlade, Charlotte Observer, 24 July 2026

Definition of lack

Noun

Amid a wave of nostalgia for the Chicago Cubs team that ended a 108-year championship drought, former club president Theo Epstein reaffirmed his desire to avoid the day-to-day grind of running another major-league franchise.

— Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 19 July 2026
Often this disorder occurs when succulent, vigorously growing plants are subjected to drought conditions.

— Dawn Pettinelli, Hartford Courant, 19 July 2026

Definition of drought

Browse Nearby Words

family way

famine

famines

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Famine.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/famine. Accessed 26 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of famine

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on famine

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

aerie

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 24

Why do we say 'fly off the handle'?

Popular

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes