Synonyms of scant

scant 1 of 2

adjective

ˈskant 

as in sparse

less plentiful than what is normal, necessary, or desirable

jobs for teenagers were scant that summer

Synonyms & Similar Words

• sparse
• scarce
• scanty
• meager
• poor
• lacking
• skimpy
• lowest
• mere
• spare
• insufficient
• light
• sparing
• small
• slender
• exiguous
• short
• inadequate
• stingy
• minimal
• slim
• hand-to-mouth
• skimp
• thin on the ground
• least
• deficient
• thin
• slightest
• wanting
• bare-bones
• slight
• littlest
• sterile
• bare
• barren
• unfruitful
• unproductive
• infertile

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• ample
• sufficient
• adequate
• abundant
• copious
• enough
• satisfactory
• generous
• plentiful
• liberal
• bountiful
• tolerable
• rich
• fertile
• fruitful
• plenteous
• prolific
• fat
• extra
• lavish
• excess
• bursting
• luxuriant
• flourishing
• fecund
• thriving
• surplus
• proliferative
• teeming
• blooming
• swarming

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

• spare
• conserve
• preserve
• stint (on)
• skimp (on)
• nurse
• portion (out)
• pinch
• dole out
• mete (out)
• shortchange
• ration (out)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• pour
• heap
• lavish
• rain
• shower

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

Recent Examples of scant

Adjective

Given all that, Werenski has a packed schedule, especially during the NHL season, and has plenty of ways to occupy his scant free time. —Sean Gregory, Time, 21 Feb. 2026

Details of how the national provider directory will work are scant — federal officials buried the development in a document intended for health insurance companies. —Bob Herman, STAT, 19 Feb. 2026

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