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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of famine
His great uncle died during the famine in Greece that was brought on by the Nazi occupation and that wiped out at least 300,000 people.
—
Ari Daniel, NPR, 1 July 2025
For President Trump, the goal of averting a global famine would earn him high marks.
—Daniel Markind, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
Sudan — one of the world’s poorest nations even before the start of the conflict — has been gripped by a civil war that has led to the world’s first famine declaration in years, with more than 20 million remaining in desperate need of food.
—Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 25 June 2025
But his ability to successfully interpret the Pharaoh’s dreams, which saves Egypt from a terrible famine, earns him favor and position.
—Joe Otterson, Variety, 17 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for famine
Ari Daniel, NPR, 1 July 2025
For President Trump, the goal of averting a global famine would earn him high marks.
—Daniel Markind, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
Sudan — one of the world’s poorest nations even before the start of the conflict — has been gripped by a civil war that has led to the world’s first famine declaration in years, with more than 20 million remaining in desperate need of food.
—Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 25 June 2025
But his ability to successfully interpret the Pharaoh’s dreams, which saves Egypt from a terrible famine, earns him favor and position.
—Joe Otterson, Variety, 17 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for famine
Recent Examples of Synonyms for famine
Noun
-
Meanwhile, Californians feel the effects of the shortage of at least 3 million homes in their pocketbooks.—
Laura Friedman,
Oc Register,
7 July 2025
-
Raising a dam also raises the risk of downstream water shortages, ecological disruption, and international tension.—
Joe Salas
July 06,
New Atlas,
6 July 2025
Noun
-
As a result, the carbon dioxide isn't replenished and, along with other mechanisms like the solar winds and the lack of magnetic field, the result was a feedback process that bled off more and more of the atmosphere as more and more of the carbon dioxide was sealed in the minerals.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
12 July 2025
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President Donald Trump toured the flood site Friday, while officials faced mounting criticism over the lack of emergency warnings about quickly rising waters that killed at least 120 people, including over two dozen at an all-girls summer camp.—
Grace Miserocchi,
Chicago Tribune,
12 July 2025
Noun
-
In 1990, the team snapped a 40-year World Cup drought and has qualified for the global extravaganza eight out of nine times.—
Michael Lewis,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2025
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Integrated systems allow for real-time responses to drought, flood, or seasonal imbalances.—
Matthew Kayser,
USA Today,
30 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Famine.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/famine. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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