Synonyms of dearth

dearth

noun

ˈdərth 

1

as in shortage

a falling short of an essential or desirable amount or number

there was a dearth of usable firewood at the campsite

Synonyms & Similar Words

• shortage
• lack
• paucity
• deficiency
• scarcity
• absence
• famine
• drought
• deficit
• insufficiency
• inadequacy
• poverty
• lacuna
• scarceness
• scantiness
• undersupply
• crunch
• failure
• inadequateness
• pinch
• omission
• want
• necessity
• meagerness
• privation
• poorness
• skimpiness
• need

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• abundance
• plenty
• wealth
• sufficiency
• adequacy
• amplitude
• plenitude
• opulence
• surplus
• excess
• surfeit
• overabundance
• copiousness
• oversupply
• bountifulness

2

as in lack

the fact or state of being absent

the dearth of salesclerks at the shoe store annoyed us

Synonyms & Similar Words

• lack
• absence
• shortage
• paucity
• scarcity
• deficiency
• famine
• insufficiency
• inadequacy
• omission
• necessity
• poverty
• deficit
• deprivation
• want
• loss
• meagerness
• scarceness
• scantiness
• undersupply
• failure
• privation
• skimpiness
• need
• inadequateness
• vacuum
• needfulness
• void
• emptiness
• vacuity
• scantness
• blankness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• presence
• abundance
• plenty
• wealth
• plenitude
• surplus
• amplitude
• sufficiency
• adequacy
• bounty
• excess
• flood
• quantity
• plentitude
• oversupply
• surfeit
• supply
• lot
• loads
• volume
• deluge
• plentifulness
• overabundance
• mass
• plenteousness
• superabundance
• stock
• deal
• mountain
• pile
• heap
• bushel
• raft
• stack
• reams
• fund
• pot
• pool
• peck
• wad
• scads
• stockpile
• oodles
• hoard
• gobs
• cache
• stash
• much

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of dearth

In addition to rolling heat waves, the country has been grappling with a dearth of rain — just 7% of the average for this time of year, falling to 1% in some parts of the south. — Charlotte Reck, CNN Money, 30 July 2026

On the flip side, several noted that the café can be crowded and dirty, and quite a few reviewers complained about the dearth of actual Corgi dogs (Trudy, a Corgi owned by one of Laqua’s co-founders, makes an occasional visit). — Anne Kadet, Curbed, 29 July 2026

One blessing for Washington’s beleaguered press corps may be a dearth of parties surrounding the rescheduled dinner. — Aidan McLaughlin, Vanity Fair, 25 July 2026

Further talking points this year include the dearth of women in competition with Danish-Egyptian director May-el Toukhy the only woman making it into the 20-picture competition, with post-World War II drama Woman Unknown. — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 24 July 2026

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