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
Now, the specter of genocide and famine haunts the region once again.
—
Emmanuel Akinwotu, NPR, 15 Apr. 2026
The war has pushed parts of Sudan into famine.
—Samy Magdy, Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2026
Released in 2014, Interstellar took place in a dystopian future where Earth is suffering from world-ending famine, prompting a group of astronauts — led by former NASA test pilot Coop (Matthew McConaughey) — to go in search of a new home for humanity.
—Derek Lawrence, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Apr. 2026
Born out of famine and conflict, both civil and global, this attitude still shapes Japanese thought and creativity.
—Caleb Jacobs, The Drive, 9 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for famine
Emmanuel Akinwotu, NPR, 15 Apr. 2026
The war has pushed parts of Sudan into famine.
—Samy Magdy, Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2026
Released in 2014, Interstellar took place in a dystopian future where Earth is suffering from world-ending famine, prompting a group of astronauts — led by former NASA test pilot Coop (Matthew McConaughey) — to go in search of a new home for humanity.
—Derek Lawrence, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Apr. 2026
Born out of famine and conflict, both civil and global, this attitude still shapes Japanese thought and creativity.
—Caleb Jacobs, The Drive, 9 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for famine
Recent Examples of Synonyms for famine
Noun
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There won’t be a shortage of suitors, if Alvarez is made available.—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
11 May 2026
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Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has resulted in the loss of nearly a billion barrels of oil, with the shortage growing worse every day the sea lane remains closed.—
Azhar Sukri,
CNBC,
10 May 2026
Noun
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The guard admitted he was surprised by the lack of questions about his medical status but voiced confidence that the issue would not continue into his NBA career.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
13 May 2026
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The defense has detailed the lack of physical evidence — no DNA or blood was found on Murdaugh or any of his clothes, even though the killings were at close range with powerful weapons that were never found.—
Jeffrey Collins,
Los Angeles Times,
13 May 2026
Noun
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Good luck convincing the Atlanta Braves that Freddie Freeman was in a home run drought.—
Doug Padilla,
Oc Register,
9 May 2026
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In addition to being sun lovers, many of the species on this list are heat- and drought-tolerant.—
Madeline Buiano,
Martha Stewart,
9 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Famine.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/famine. Accessed 15 May. 2026.
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