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

Nvidia has secured what could be a $500 billion memory supply agreement with SK Hynix, potentially alleviating a concern as the memory market faces a global shortage.

— Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 27 July 2026
One big question, Chan said, is whether CXMT could help with the broader shortage.

— ABC News, ABC News, 27 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

Then temperatures turned record-hot in western Europe in May, just as France and Spain’s precipitation fell off a cliff, leading to drought.

— Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 27 July 2026
As the climate warms due in large part to the burning of fossil fuels, research shows that heat waves, droughts, hurricanes, and floods have become more intense and more frequent.

— Ava Berger, NPR, 26 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 29 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

inveigle

Popular in Grammar & Usage

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

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

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

Your vs. You're: How to Use Them Correctly

Popular in Wordplay

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Games & Quizzes