as in shortage
a falling short of an essential or desirable amount or number
a paucity of useful answers to the problem of traffic congestion at rush hour
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Recent Examples of paucity
If the discussion had a certain DIY quality to it, that reflects the paucity of medical literature on what lightning does to the body.
—
Jacob Stern, The Atlantic, 16 Mar. 2026
Two years ago, former Atlantans and veteran documentarians Ryan White and Jessica Hargrave felt like there was a paucity of funny documentaries.
—Rodney Ho, AJC.com, 10 Mar. 2026
Environmental factors are believed to be at play — an abundance of near-work activities, screen time at early ages and a paucity of time spent outdoors.
—Brian Park, Mercury News, 24 Feb. 2026
One potential showstopper after another fell flat, every song undersold and suffering from a paucity of punch.
—Rob Hubbard, Twin Cities, 28 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for paucity
Jacob Stern, The Atlantic, 16 Mar. 2026
Two years ago, former Atlantans and veteran documentarians Ryan White and Jessica Hargrave felt like there was a paucity of funny documentaries.
—Rodney Ho, AJC.com, 10 Mar. 2026
Environmental factors are believed to be at play — an abundance of near-work activities, screen time at early ages and a paucity of time spent outdoors.
—Brian Park, Mercury News, 24 Feb. 2026
One potential showstopper after another fell flat, every song undersold and suffering from a paucity of punch.
—Rob Hubbard, Twin Cities, 28 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for paucity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paucity
Noun
-
There won’t be a shortage of suitors, if Alvarez is made available.—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
11 May 2026
-
Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has resulted in the loss of nearly a billion barrels of oil, with the shortage growing worse every day the sea lane remains closed.—
Azhar Sukri,
CNBC,
10 May 2026
Noun
-
Staff and managers complained about the lack of specifics, as did legal-services providers and advocacy groups.—
E. Tammy Kim,
New Yorker,
7 May 2026
-
Pratt took aim at Bass over the lack of water available during the inferno, with fire hydrants running dry.—
David Zahniser,
Los Angeles Times,
7 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Paucity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paucity. Accessed 12 May. 2026.
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