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
Meanwhile, about 200,000 Filipino civilians died from violence, famine, or disease.
—
Jonathan Zimmerman, New York Daily News, 13 Mar. 2026
Was the quality of the discourse improved by our ability to gamble on drug-boat bombings in the Caribbean or whether Gaza would experience a famine?
—Mckay Coppins, The Atlantic, 12 Mar. 2026
For others, a red Moon signaled impending war, famine, or the death of a ruler.
—Alan Bradley, Space.com, 2 Mar. 2026
Part of Gaza, around Gaza City, was found to be in famine.
—ABC News, 1 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for famine
Jonathan Zimmerman, New York Daily News, 13 Mar. 2026
Was the quality of the discourse improved by our ability to gamble on drug-boat bombings in the Caribbean or whether Gaza would experience a famine?
—Mckay Coppins, The Atlantic, 12 Mar. 2026
For others, a red Moon signaled impending war, famine, or the death of a ruler.
—Alan Bradley, Space.com, 2 Mar. 2026
Part of Gaza, around Gaza City, was found to be in famine.
—ABC News, 1 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for famine
Recent Examples of Synonyms for famine
Noun
-
The lack of pay has contributed to high call-out rates at airports across the country, including at Philadelphia International Airport, where staffing shortages have led to longer security lines.—
Eva Andersen,
CBS News,
30 Mar. 2026
-
The war has threatened global supplies of oil and natural gas, sparked fertilizer shortages and disrupted air travel.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
As recently as 2022, research group IDinsight found unintended pregnancy was, after a lack of money for school fees, the leading cause of girls not returning to education.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
2 Apr. 2026
-
In Miami-Dade, the lack of oversight has been acute, the Herald found.—
Carol Marbin Miller,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
While temperatures will drop significantly, precipitation totals are expected to remain limited in key drought areas.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Persistent drought has led to beetle infestations in the state’s ponderosa and piñon pine forests.—
Sarah Henry,
AZCentral.com,
28 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Famine.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/famine. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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