scarce

adjective

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\ ˈskers

scarcer; scarcest

Definition of scarce

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : deficient in quantity or number compared with the demand : not plentiful or abundant

2 : intentionally absent made himself scarce at inspection time

scarce

adverb

Definition of scarce (Entry 2 of 2)

: scarcely, hardly scarce was independence half a century old, when a … split occurred— John McPhee

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Choose the Right Synonym for scarce

Adjective

infrequent, uncommon, scarce, rare, sporadic mean not common or abundant. infrequent implies occurrence at wide intervals in space or time. infrequent family visits uncommon suggests a frequency below normal expectation. smallpox is now uncommon in many countries scarce implies falling short of a standard or required abundance. jobs were scarce during the Depression rare suggests extreme scarcity or infrequency and often implies consequent high value. rare first editions sporadic implies occurrence in scattered instances or isolated outbursts. sporadic cases of influenza

Examples of scarce in a Sentence

Adjective Food was getting scarce during the drought. food was a bit scarce last winter Adverb I could scarce believe what I was hearing.

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective While plot details for the film are scarce, Nolan has made a name for himself by rejecting CGI where most directors would include it. — Fox News, "Christopher Nolan's 'Tenet' delays release again amid reported coronavirus spikes," 26 June 2020 In Las Vegas, which reopened casinos on June 4, masks were recommended but not required and have been scarce. — Alison Fox, Travel + Leisure, "Atlantic City Casinos Reopen on July 2 — What to Know," 24 June 2020 My friends locked out of Beijing, Liz and Daniel, have to stay a bit longer in Budapest—flights out of Hungary have been scarce, and foreigners are not allowed into China. — Rachel Donadio, The Atlantic, "The Death of Cosmopolitanism," 23 June 2020 At some events, like in Chicago and New York, participants packed together, though many wore masks; at others, masks were scarce, though. — Anchorage Daily News, "Amid protests for racial justice, Juneteenth celebrations get new urgency," 20 June 2020 While more recent polling is scarce, a 2017 Fox News poll found 61% of Americans were against taking down Confederate monuments, while 29% were in favor. — W. James Antle Iii, Washington Examiner, "Trump gambles on holding the line against renaming military bases," 16 June 2020 Mice enter a state known as daily torpor, lasting only hours, to conserve energy when food is scarce. — Simon Makin, Scientific American, "Switch in Mouse Brain Induces a Deep Slumber Similar to Hibernation," 15 June 2020 Although hard numbers are scarce, there are anecdotal reports that more women were worried about raising a family in the midst of the economic destruction caused by the measures to combat the virus. — BostonGlobe.com, "Coronavirus created an obstacle course for safe abortions," 14 June 2020 High-paying jobs and decent housing for low-income individuals are scarce. — Joe Guillen, Freep.com, "From 1967 to George Floyd: Detroit activists connect the dots to fight inequality," 14 June 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'scarce.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.