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

Now, new research shows just how dire the state of healthcare is in these areas, particularly because of a dearth of surgeons in places across the United States. — Justin Klawans, TheWeek, 5 Oct. 2026

And considering the dearth of new mainstream stars — outside of Doechii and Don Toliver, other emerging talents have yet to commercially break through — hip-hop veterans have more of an opening to notch genuine hits. — Michael Saponara, Billboard, 5 Oct. 2026

After the peak of fame and power with the Royal Academy exhibition in 1997, which toured to the Hamburger Bahnhof in Berlin and the Brooklyn Museum of Art, there was a dearth of interest in the YBAs for a decade or so. — Eliza Goodpasture, ARTnews.com, 5 Oct. 2026

The city’s dearth of affordable housing has been a leading issue in the race. — Jacqueline Ganun, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2026

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