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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of famine
China wouldn’t have cleared that bar then, during Mao’s rule that claimed many millions of lives through famine and revolutionary upheaval.
—
John Leicester,
Los Angeles Times,
15 June 2026
China wouldn’t have cleared that bar then, during Mao’s rule that claimed many millions of lives through famine and revolutionary upheaval.
—
ABC News,
13 June 2026
Maria is a witness to the old world with World War II, famine, and the new world.
—
Photovogue,
Vogue,
11 June 2026
The party has tried to sell Americans on the value of global engagement—famine relief, training foreign militaries, support for the United Nations—before.
—
Missy Ryan,
The Atlantic,
10 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for famine
John Leicester,
Los Angeles Times,
15 June 2026
China wouldn’t have cleared that bar then, during Mao’s rule that claimed many millions of lives through famine and revolutionary upheaval.
—
ABC News,
13 June 2026
Maria is a witness to the old world with World War II, famine, and the new world.
—
Photovogue,
Vogue,
11 June 2026
The party has tried to sell Americans on the value of global engagement—famine relief, training foreign militaries, support for the United Nations—before.
—
Missy Ryan,
The Atlantic,
10 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for famine
Recent Examples of Synonyms for famine
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.
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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.
Noun
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These areas often have awkward entrances and lack ventilation, which allows heat to build quickly.
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Nearly half acknowledged mental health issues, and 34% felt their lack of personal relationships was a factor that contributed to feeling purposeless.
Noun
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Many areas of Colorado are experiencing moderate to severe drought.
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Finally, in the bottom of the ninth, Betts ended the Dodgers’ scoring drought.
Cite this Entry
“Famine.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/famine. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
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