Synonyms of drought

drought

noun

ˈdrau̇t 

variants also drouth

as in shortage

a falling short of an essential or desirable amount or number

there's been a drought of good movies this year

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of drought

An extended statewide drought, hot and windy weather, and forests ransacked by pine beetles persist, making conditions ripe for fires. — Noelle Phillips, Denver Post, 16 Aug. 2026

Romero was a key figure in helping the club end their 17-year trophy drought with the Europa League win in 2025, with his central defensive partnership with Micky van de Ven crucial, especially in the knockout stages. — Jay Harris, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2026

Homeowners in those areas get $450 off the cost of Yardzen’s designs in addition to the standard $5 per-square-foot rebate SoCal WaterSmart provides when turf is replaced by drought-tolerant plants and other conditions are met. — Pedro Moura, Los Angeles Times, 15 Aug. 2026

Adapt to survive Along with a warming trend pushing harvesting seasons earlier, European wine growers are up against drought, freak weather events such as spring hailstorms and frost which wiped out many buds, and wildfires. — Jenni Reid, CNBC, 15 Aug. 2026