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
-
Ultimately, a lack of Democratic support for weakening the filibuster prevented them from passing that legislation, but Republicans were also vehemently opposed and leaned on arguments about protecting states’ rights.—
David Sivak,
The Washington Examiner,
26 Mar. 2026
-
That played into his lack of worry about Iowa’s turnaround from its Sunday upset of defending national champion and top-seeded Florida, at least from a physical and travel standpoint.—
Colleen Kane,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Mar. 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
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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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