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

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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 Churchill’s role in the famine, which took place during the twilight of India’s rule by Great Britain, has long been a topic of debate among historians. — News Desk, Artforum, 23 June 2026 Helen Cammock removed her video claiming Churchill starved Indians during the Bengal famine from London’s National Portrait Gallery. — Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 23 June 2026 This is Conolly’s Folly, built in 1740 at the height of a terrible famine. — Amelia Soth, JSTOR Daily, 18 June 2026 War, famine, disease and death — all four horsemen of the apocalypse. — George Calhoun, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for famine

Recent Examples of Synonyms for famine

Noun

The divergence is over whether the worker shortage is improving slowly or still getting worse, and what the Supreme Court should do about it.

— Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
Lights had been switched off to conserve electricity amid fuel shortages that have gripped Cuba since the beginning of the year.

— Romina Ruiz-Goiriena, USA Today, 6 July 2026

Definition of shortage

Noun

One Calabria hospital had lines several hours long Despite growing tourism and a strong farming economy, Calabria symbolizes southern Italy’s lack of development compared to the more wealthy and industrialized north.

— Paolo Santalucia, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
Josh Houston, who also filed complaints with state and federal agencies, said his biggest concern has been the lack of communication surrounding the project affecting the subdivision’s only access road.

— Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 9 July 2026

Definition of lack

Noun

Americans across the nation are being asked (or ordered) to conserve water, thanks to widespread drought made even worse by a punishing heat wave.

— Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 5 July 2026
Efraín Juárez, then the coach of Pumas, was asked about the possibility of his team ending a long title drought.

— Eduard Cauich, Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2026

Definition of drought

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family way

famine

famines

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Style

“Famine.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/famine. Accessed 11 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of famine

noun

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