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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Recent Examples of famine
Parts of Gaza, including the area in and around Gaza City, were found to be in famine.
—
Wafaa Shurafa, Los Angeles Times, 2 Mar. 2026
Part of Gaza, around Gaza City, was found to be in famine.
—ABC News, 1 Mar. 2026
But the work cannot escape being read as a reference to the famine.
—Anel Rakhimzhanova, Artforum, 1 Mar. 2026
Thankfully, not everything’s feast or famine.
—Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for famine
Wafaa Shurafa, Los Angeles Times, 2 Mar. 2026
Part of Gaza, around Gaza City, was found to be in famine.
—ABC News, 1 Mar. 2026
But the work cannot escape being read as a reference to the famine.
—Anel Rakhimzhanova, Artforum, 1 Mar. 2026
Thankfully, not everything’s feast or famine.
—Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for famine
Recent Examples of Synonyms for famine
Noun
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Border czar Tom Homan said Sunday that ICE officers would not replace TSA officers, but instead fill gaps created by staffing shortages.—
Asher Notheis,
The Washington Examiner,
23 Mar. 2026
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Staffing shortages have forced some travelers to build in significantly more time before flights – sometimes hours more than usual.—
Nathan Diller,
USA Today,
23 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Ultimately, a lack of Democratic support for weakening the filibuster prevented them from passing that legislation, but Republicans were also vehemently opposed and leaned on arguments about protecting states’ rights.—
David Sivak,
The Washington Examiner,
26 Mar. 2026
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That played into his lack of worry about Iowa’s turnaround from its Sunday upset of defending national champion and top-seeded Florida, at least from a physical and travel standpoint.—
Colleen Kane,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Centennial finally broke the drought in the 62nd minute when Andie Hafner found Mardie Frye for the goal and 1-0 lead.—
Darren Lauber,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
21 Mar. 2026
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The snow drought is complicating that work.—
Mira Rojanasakul,
New York Times,
21 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Famine.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/famine. Accessed 28 Mar. 2026.
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