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

• 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

Based on the excellent (but sparse) Neil Gaiman book, Coraline may be the rare film adaptation that's better than the source material. —Chris Snellgrove, Entertainment Weekly, 24 Oct. 2025

A couple of weeks before the opening there was a launch of the memoir at Skylight which had a very sparse attendance. —Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2025

Indeed, Mamdani’s promise to focus on affordability seems to have resonated with the rank-and file industry workers at a time of sparse job opportunities and skyrocketing cost of living. —Peter Kiefer, HollywoodReporter, 23 Oct. 2025

Her ascension, particularly at a time when Black ballerinas were so sparse, Howard said, emphasized the larger conversation around the lack of diversity in the ballet world. —Leah Asmelash, CNN Money, 22 Oct. 2025

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