scant 1 of 2

scant

2 of 2

verb

as in to spare
to use or give out in stingy amounts don't scant the peanut butter on those sandwiches!

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective scant differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of scant are meager, scanty, skimpy, spare, and sparse. While all these words mean "falling short of what is normal, necessary, or desirable," scant suggests a falling short of what is desired or desirable rather than of what is essential.

in January the daylight hours are scant

When is meager a more appropriate choice than scant?

The meanings of meager and scant largely overlap; however, meager implies the absence of elements, qualities, or numbers necessary to a thing's richness, substance, or potency.

a meager portion of meat

When could scanty be used to replace scant?

The words scanty and scant are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, scanty stresses insufficiency in amount, quantity, or extent.

supplies too scanty to last the winter

When can skimpy be used instead of scant?

The synonyms skimpy and scant are sometimes interchangeable, but skimpy usually suggests niggardliness or penury as the cause of the deficiency.

tacky housing developments on skimpy lots

When might spare be a better fit than scant?

While in some cases nearly identical to scant, spare may suggest a slight falling short of adequacy or merely an absence of superfluity.

a spare, concise style of writing

When is it sensible to use sparse instead of scant?

The words sparse and scant can be used in similar contexts, but sparse implies a thin scattering of units.

a sparse population

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 scant
Adjective
But specific research into the practice of garnishing wages over medical debt is scant. Rae Ellen Bichell, Fortune, 29 Sep. 2025 The absence of a deal and the scant progress are prompting both sides to hunker down, with the blame game only escalating as the hourglass winds down toward Tuesday evening. Al Weaver, The Hill, 29 Sep. 2025
Verb
There were few roads or trails or even paths to follow and scant potable water, but plenty of pit vipers and tarantulas. Ellen Ruppel Shell, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Apr. 2022 In most cases, the Electoral College vote is a mere formality that carries no drama and garners scant public attention. Gilbert Garcia, ExpressNews.com, 18 Dec. 2020 See All Example Sentences for scant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scant
Adjective
  • For now, Swifties only have the song titles, multiple variant covers, and sparse details shared during the singer’s two-hour long New Heights podcast appearance to shape their understanding of the album.
    Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 1 Oct. 2025
  • The pros and cons of sparse attention An AI model makes decisions based on its training data and new information, such as a prompt.
    Tasmin Lockwood, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • But his immediate contrition was not enough to spare him a red card at the next break in play, or to disguise the fact that nerves are fraying everywhere — not least in the coach’s office.
    Steve Madeley, New York Times, 6 Oct. 2025
  • Every day, your immune system performs a delicate balancing act, defending you from thousands of pathogens that cause disease while sparing your body’s own healthy cells.
    Aimee Pugh Bernard, The Conversation, 6 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Details remain scarce, but Netflix says that players will have to undergo physical and mental challenges in order to receive clues, with characters like the aforementioned Mustard, Professor Plum and others all represented.
    Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 7 Oct. 2025
  • And don’t forget to keep filling the DesGully Window Bird Feeder all winter long—birds come to rely on that food source, especially when the weather’s cold and the food is scarce.
    Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Iran can achieve that by abandoning water-hungry crops, shifting to smart farming, conserving every drop, and reviving flood-management techniques Iranians once mastered to recharge depleted aquifers.
    Nik Kowsar, Time, 2 Oct. 2025
  • Overwintering October Magic® Ivory™ Camellia plants benefit from a layer of mulch in winter to moderate soil temperatures and conserve moisture.
    Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 1 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Donate today to preserve the quality and integrity of local journalism.
    Ella McCarthy, Arkansas Online, 3 Oct. 2025
  • Direct communication from the company—rather than through media spin—can help preserve confidence and reduce reputational harm.
    Tim Reynolds, Fortune, 3 Oct. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Scant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scant. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.

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