variants
also drouths
as in shortages
a falling short of an essential or desirable amount or number
there's been a drought of good movies this year
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Recent Examples of droughts
Aim for Once a Week Spider plants are native to coastal areas of South Africa, which can experience periodic droughts.
—
Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Jan. 2026
Ducks fans enduring defeat after defeat could at least point to the two franchises with longer playoff droughts, the Detroit Red Wings and Buffalo Sabres.
—Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 12 Jan. 2026
However, the 23-year-old still runs into deep goal-scoring droughts, and his overall play has been more pedestrian than powerful.
—Eric Stephens, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2026
The hotter temperatures are sparking changes in precipitation—rainier rains and drier droughts.
—Amy Green, Miami Herald, 9 Jan. 2026
This is because a warmer atmosphere pulls more moisture out of soils and plants, deepening droughts.
—Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2026
As temperatures warm and snow droughts become more common, this research will be essential to help water resources managers, winter sports industries and everyone else who relies on snow to prepare for the future.
—Alejandro N. Flores, The Conversation, 8 Jan. 2026
The Paris Agreement temperature goals were based on scientific assessments of how each increment of global warming fuels worse heatwaves, droughts and wildfires.
—CNN Money, 4 Nov. 2025
And what happens if one nation’s cooling efforts trigger droughts in another?
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 3 Nov. 2025
Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Jan. 2026
Ducks fans enduring defeat after defeat could at least point to the two franchises with longer playoff droughts, the Detroit Red Wings and Buffalo Sabres.
—Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 12 Jan. 2026
However, the 23-year-old still runs into deep goal-scoring droughts, and his overall play has been more pedestrian than powerful.
—Eric Stephens, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2026
The hotter temperatures are sparking changes in precipitation—rainier rains and drier droughts.
—Amy Green, Miami Herald, 9 Jan. 2026
This is because a warmer atmosphere pulls more moisture out of soils and plants, deepening droughts.
—Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2026
As temperatures warm and snow droughts become more common, this research will be essential to help water resources managers, winter sports industries and everyone else who relies on snow to prepare for the future.
—Alejandro N. Flores, The Conversation, 8 Jan. 2026
The Paris Agreement temperature goals were based on scientific assessments of how each increment of global warming fuels worse heatwaves, droughts and wildfires.
—CNN Money, 4 Nov. 2025
And what happens if one nation’s cooling efforts trigger droughts in another?
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 3 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for droughts
Noun
-
Staffing shortages identified years ago continue to undermine security and basic operations.—
Walter Pavlo,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
The delivery comes as Ukraine leans heavily on drones to offset shortages in traditional missiles and aircraft.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Economic theory would suggest that the best place to make a major investment such as a STAR bond would be in a place that has low, or lacks, economic activity.—
Sofi Zeman
January 21,
Kansas City Star,
21 Jan. 2026
-
The 6-2, 2-00-pounder lacks experience but does boast ideal length and versatility and currently projects as a late-round selection or free agent.—
Thomas Jones,
Austin American Statesman,
16 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Droughts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/droughts. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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