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
Tuberculosis, for instance, is estimated to have caused about a billion deaths across history, more than all famines and wars combined.
—
Literary Hub, 1 May 2026
Within the next few years, as famine spread throughout China and the Cultural Revolution began, her grandmother and three of her brothers died of starvation, tuberculosis, and drowning.
—René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 Apr. 2026
Stress evolved to keep you alive in the face of acute danger – predators, famine, immediate physical threat.
—Phil Starks, The Conversation, 21 Apr. 2026
The war has pushed parts of Sudan into famine.
—Samy Magdy, Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for famine
Literary Hub, 1 May 2026
Within the next few years, as famine spread throughout China and the Cultural Revolution began, her grandmother and three of her brothers died of starvation, tuberculosis, and drowning.
—René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 Apr. 2026
Stress evolved to keep you alive in the face of acute danger – predators, famine, immediate physical threat.
—Phil Starks, The Conversation, 21 Apr. 2026
The war has pushed parts of Sudan into famine.
—Samy Magdy, Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for famine
Recent Examples of Synonyms for famine
Noun
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American officials also said Beijing would address rare earth shortages, although this was not mentioned in the corresponding statement from China.—
Leonie Kidd,
CNBC,
18 May 2026
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There is no shortage of choices, from fast-growing bushes for a privacy hedge, evergreen shrubs that provide year-round color in your yard, or flowering shrubs with gorgeous blooms in the spring or summer.—
Patricia Shannon,
Southern Living,
17 May 2026
Noun
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In England, the Women’s Super League’s commitment is attracting more and more talent to England, and at some point, Spain’s lack of investment in women’s football, not the club, will end up posing a problem for Barca — as seen in Arsenal’s triumph in the final over the Spanish side last year.—
Tamerra Griffin,
New York Times,
21 May 2026
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The temporary restraining order has been extended due to the lack of service.—
KiMi Robinson,
USA Today,
21 May 2026
Noun
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The easing of export regulations came just as Argentina’s beef production dropped by more than 10 percent due to floods and droughts, according to CICCRA, the nonprofit organization that represents Argentina’s beef producers.—
Clara Preve,
Fortune,
16 May 2026
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The easing of export regulations came just as Argentina's beef production dropped by more than 10 percent due to floods and droughts, according to CICCRA, the nonprofit organization that represents Argentina’s beef producers.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Famine.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/famine. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
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