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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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 Researchers at Ghent University, in Belgium, estimated that 500,000 civilians died from violence, famine and the collapse of health services. — ABC News, 5 Oct. 2026 The 2020-2022 Tigray war killed more than 100,000 people and contributed to famine in the region. — Adrian Elimian, semafor.com, 28 Sep. 2026 Very strong El Niño events has been associated with floods and famine in the past. — Sean MacAday, Sacbee.com, 27 Sep. 2026 The African Union estimated that conflict resulted in around 600,000 deaths from combat, famine and the collapse of healthcare. — Arkansas Online, 26 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for famine

Recent Examples of Synonyms for famine

Noun

What to do nearby There’s no shortage to do in Vancouver and Azur is right in the heart of it.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Oct. 2026
The Albanian Manufacturing Association warned this week that nearly 150 garment factories have closed and roughly 25,000 jobs have been lost in recent years amid declining exports, high production costs, labor shortages and the euro’s depreciation.

— Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of shortage

Noun

Nearly all its arrangements hew to a standard radio-pop format, and in the record’s back half this lack of imagination becomes tiresome.

— Enzo Escober, Pitchfork, 9 Oct. 2026
Wednesday’s filing marks the latest escalation in the legal fight over conditions at the facility and the government’s lack of compliance with the court’s directives.

— Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of lack

Noun

That set up Ollie Gordon II’s TD run late in the third quarter, ending Miami’s 15-possession touchdown drought.

— Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 5 Oct. 2026
The Supreme Court will open its new term Monday by hearing arguments on whether the oil and gas industry may be forced to pay damages for the scorching heat waves, wildfires and droughts that are blamed on climate change.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2026

Definition of drought

Browse Nearby Words

family way

famine

famines

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Style

“Famine.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/famine. Accessed 11 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of famine

noun

Example Sentences

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