as in shortages
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 famines
This was further supported by documentary evidence of poorer crop yields, weak harvests, and resultant famines.
—
Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 4 Dec. 2025
The great famines of the twentieth century were often driven by droughts.
—Arif Husain, Foreign Affairs, 11 Nov. 2025
And that’s how America can turn one of the worst famines in history into a $13 billion party.
—Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 28 Oct. 2025
Since the Civil War, relief efforts had taken her to wars, floods, fires, famines, cyclones, and earthquakes.
—Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 2025
Enter Bob Dylan, who gave a shoutout to those who grow the food that ends famines and sparked decades of giving through Live Aid.
—Daniel Wine, CNN Money, 17 Sep. 2025
Despite concerns about feeding a growing global population in the face of a changing climate, along with famines being declared in Sudan and Gaza, the number of calories consumed per person increased by 35% worldwide between 1960 and 2022 and shows no signs of slowing.
—Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Modern-day famines are different than the famines that occurred in the 1970s and 1980s, when drought was the main driver in Ethiopia and other nations.
—Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025
Somalia, in 2011, and South Sudan, in 2017, also saw famines in which tens of thousands of people were affected.
—Laura Ungar, Chicago Tribune, 23 Aug. 2025
Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 4 Dec. 2025
The great famines of the twentieth century were often driven by droughts.
—Arif Husain, Foreign Affairs, 11 Nov. 2025
And that’s how America can turn one of the worst famines in history into a $13 billion party.
—Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 28 Oct. 2025
Since the Civil War, relief efforts had taken her to wars, floods, fires, famines, cyclones, and earthquakes.
—Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 2025
Enter Bob Dylan, who gave a shoutout to those who grow the food that ends famines and sparked decades of giving through Live Aid.
—Daniel Wine, CNN Money, 17 Sep. 2025
Despite concerns about feeding a growing global population in the face of a changing climate, along with famines being declared in Sudan and Gaza, the number of calories consumed per person increased by 35% worldwide between 1960 and 2022 and shows no signs of slowing.
—Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Modern-day famines are different than the famines that occurred in the 1970s and 1980s, when drought was the main driver in Ethiopia and other nations.
—Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025
Somalia, in 2011, and South Sudan, in 2017, also saw famines in which tens of thousands of people were affected.
—Laura Ungar, Chicago Tribune, 23 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for famines
Noun
-
Staffing shortages identified years ago continue to undermine security and basic operations.—
Walter Pavlo,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
The delivery comes as Ukraine leans heavily on drones to offset shortages in traditional missiles and aircraft.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Economic theory would suggest that the best place to make a major investment such as a STAR bond would be in a place that has low, or lacks, economic activity.—
Sofi Zeman
January 21,
Kansas City Star,
21 Jan. 2026
-
The 6-2, 2-00-pounder lacks experience but does boast ideal length and versatility and currently projects as a late-round selection or free agent.—
Thomas Jones,
Austin American Statesman,
16 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Famines.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/famines. Accessed 9 Feb. 2026.
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