as in sparse
less plentiful than what is normal, necessary, or desirable
survived on a hand-to-mouth income that came from any odd job that he could find
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Recent Examples of hand-to-mouth
In leading the study, Rogers tested 30 braiding hair products across human, plant-based, and synthetic categories, including brands people specifically asked him to evaluate, like Gyal and Rebundle, using a hand-to-mouth risk assessment.
—
Essence, 1 Apr. 2026
At the start of The Big Fake, a Netflix dramatization of one criminal’s involvement in the most tumultuous events in post-war Italy, Toni Chichiarelli (Pietro Castellitto) is a talented painter living hand-to-mouth as a portrait artist on the streets of Rome.
—Rory Doherty, Time, 26 Jan. 2026
The occupants of this Neolithic housing development were not hand-to-mouth hunter-gatherers but settled inhabitants of a fertile floodplain.
—Literary Hub, 26 Jan. 2026
The film is not blind to how easily big dreams can be derailed, especially for the hand-to-mouth creative class in a Midwestern outpost.
—Peter Tonguette, The Washington Examiner, 9 Jan. 2026
While their musician patriarch is on the road, the eldest sibling has become the clear-eyed voice of discipline in the household who struggles with the strain of their hand-to-mouth life.
—Rob Hubbard, Twin Cities, 20 Dec. 2025
Adams was already familiar with the hand-to-mouth preparation for matches, having taken charge in April 1999.
—Andy Naylor, New York Times, 13 Nov. 2025
Still, most of Yopougon’s residents work informally and live hand-to-mouth.
—Adrien Marotte, Christian Science Monitor, 23 Oct. 2025
Ever since then, the Ekdals have lived hand-to-mouth, bolstered by Håkon’s charity.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 14 Sep. 2025
Essence, 1 Apr. 2026
At the start of The Big Fake, a Netflix dramatization of one criminal’s involvement in the most tumultuous events in post-war Italy, Toni Chichiarelli (Pietro Castellitto) is a talented painter living hand-to-mouth as a portrait artist on the streets of Rome.
—Rory Doherty, Time, 26 Jan. 2026
The occupants of this Neolithic housing development were not hand-to-mouth hunter-gatherers but settled inhabitants of a fertile floodplain.
—Literary Hub, 26 Jan. 2026
The film is not blind to how easily big dreams can be derailed, especially for the hand-to-mouth creative class in a Midwestern outpost.
—Peter Tonguette, The Washington Examiner, 9 Jan. 2026
While their musician patriarch is on the road, the eldest sibling has become the clear-eyed voice of discipline in the household who struggles with the strain of their hand-to-mouth life.
—Rob Hubbard, Twin Cities, 20 Dec. 2025
Adams was already familiar with the hand-to-mouth preparation for matches, having taken charge in April 1999.
—Andy Naylor, New York Times, 13 Nov. 2025
Still, most of Yopougon’s residents work informally and live hand-to-mouth.
—Adrien Marotte, Christian Science Monitor, 23 Oct. 2025
Ever since then, the Ekdals have lived hand-to-mouth, bolstered by Håkon’s charity.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 14 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hand-to-mouth
Adjective
-
The evidence in favor of many other unapproved peptides is even sparser.—
Dhruv Khullar,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
-
The options were sparse against the favorite for defensive player of the year honors.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
5 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
When workers are scarce, firms have to offer higher wages to attract and keep them.—
John Cassidy,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Underwater Caves Hold More Than Human Remains Around the time this individual was alive, the Yucatán Peninsula was a semi-arid savannah with no rivers or lakes — water and shade were scarce.—
Ryan Brennan
April 4,
Kansas City Star,
4 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Arsenal were pretty poor but won, Sporting were pretty good but lost.—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Ackman blamed its poor share price performance partly on the delay of UMG’s listing in the United States.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
7 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hand-to-mouth.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hand-to-mouth. Accessed 11 Apr. 2026.
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