sparse

adjective

ˈspärs 

sparser; sparsest

: of few and scattered elements

especially : not thickly grown or settled

sparsely adverb

sparseness noun

sparsity

ˈspär-sə-tē 

-stē

noun

Synonyms of sparse

• scarce

Choose the Right Synonym for sparse

meager, scanty, scant, skimpy, spare, sparse mean falling short of what is normal, necessary, or desirable.

meager implies the absence of elements, qualities, or numbers necessary to a thing's richness, substance, or potency.

a meager portion of meat

scanty stresses insufficiency in amount, quantity, or extent.

supplies too scanty to last the winter

scant suggests a falling short of what is desired or desirable rather than of what is essential.

in January the daylight hours are scant

skimpy usually suggests niggardliness or penury as the cause of the deficiency.

tacky housing developments on skimpy lots

spare may suggest a slight falling short of adequacy or merely an absence of superfluity.

a spare, concise style of writing

sparse implies a thin scattering of units.

a sparse population

Examples of sparse in a Sentence

open land is sparse around here

Recent Examples on the Web

Peaking at number two on the r&b singles chart that year, the song’s lyrics hew closely to familiar genre narratives but are transformed by the sparse yet eclectic instrumental sound being refined by Timbaland and Missy. —Literary Hub, 9 Mar. 2026

About 85 percent of the original road is still drivable, although signage is sparse and Google Maps doesn’t recognize Route 66 as a single continuous path. —Zoey Goto, Travel + Leisure, 8 Mar. 2026

Mushrooms are thought to be a heart-healthy food, but the research is sparse. —Maggie O'Neill, Verywell Health, 8 Mar. 2026

Overall, the rooms are industrial and a little sparse, but that's likely by design. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin sparsus spread out, from past participle of spargere to scatter — more at spark

First Known Use

1753, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for sparse

• arse
• carse
• farce
• marse
• parse

Kids Definition

sparse

adjective

ˈspärs 

sparser; sparsest

: of few and scattered elements

especially : not thickly grown or settled

sparsely adverb

sparseness noun

sparsity

ˈspär-sət-ē 

noun