FAMINE Synonyms: 44 Similar and Opposite Words

famine

noun

ˈfa-mən

Definition of famine

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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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of famine Fincher’s awards history with his Netflix films have been feast (Mank) or famine (The Killer). — Joe Reid, Vulture, 25 Aug. 2026 Poliński said Zosia would likely have been blamed for misfortunes such as disease and famine that often plagued the region in the 17th century, which people sometimes attributed to supernatural activity by the dead. — Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026 That El Niño is attributed to tens of millions of deaths from global famine. — Sean MacAday, Sacbee.com, 18 Aug. 2026 Floods, fires, famines and societal collapse remain reliable plot devices. — Solitaire Townsend, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for famine

Recent Examples of Synonyms for famine

Noun

Supporters contend that change-resistant property owners in the Land of Steady Habits are simply trying to ignore the statewide shortage of new housing that isn’t McMansions or high-amenity, high-rent luxury apartments.

— Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 6 Sep. 2026
Ahead of the talks, Russia had ramped up its attacks on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities with relentless bombardments, exploiting Ukraine’s shortage of air defense systems.

— Chantal Da Silva, NBC news, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of shortage

Noun

This pilot is meant to address a gap the district saw in a lack of specialized personnel to provide prevention education, community engagement and intervention protocols for students using substances.

— Morgan Matzen, Sioux Falls Argus Leader, 3 Sep. 2026
As a result, Japan finds itself in a precarious position, caught between a lack of locals to fill roles in the workforce and a distrust of immigrants who can provide labor.

— Christine Miyawaki, CNN Money, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of lack

Noun

Strict regulations, punishing conditions This summer, more than three-quarters of France’s 80 producers of Salers cheese – a semi-hard, raw cow’s milk cheese – were brought to a standstill following a series of heat waves and accompanying drought.

— Vivian Song, CNN Money, 6 Sep. 2026
Goldman Sachs said in a note that drought during the growing season could lower cane yields, while excessive rainfall during harvest could interrupt fieldwork and reduce the sugar content of cane.

— Deena Zaidi, CNBC, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of drought

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family way

famine

famines

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“Famine.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/famine. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of famine

noun

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