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
Fill prepared muffin cups using a scant 1/2 cup batter per cup. Katlyn Moncada, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Sep. 2025 Lily King, though, is some kind of genius, because in a scant 250 pages, this book both delighted me intellectually and affected me on a profound emotional plane. Literary Hub, 8 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
  • Model Drift and Fraud Patterns Require Human Feedback In fraud detection, patterns evolve quickly and data remains sparse.
    Christer Holloman, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
  • The floors will be reclaimed plastic and concrete, and the equipment in the hospital will be sparse, as there are no monitors available, Hawash-Kuemmerle said.
    Natalie Davies, Freep.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The researchers tested their two-part drug on mice and zebrafish engineered to produce β-glucuronidase, and found that the drug was activated almost exclusively in tumors, sparing healthy tissue and organs.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 16 Sep. 2025
  • Lawmakers will be on their annual autumn recess, sparing the government an awkward decision.
    Jill Lawless, Twin Cities, 16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The position of elementary education among the least susceptible to poverty might be surprising, but elementary school teachers are scarce and in demand.
    Erik Sherman, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
  • The number of investigations is scarce not because of a lack of potential violations.
    Max Blau, ProPublica, 16 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • By extending sensor reach while conserving power, technologies like Wi-Fi HaLow can help broaden access to real-time environmental data, especially in areas where traditional networks fall short.
    Michael De Nil, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Nationwide, over 90 percent of the country is experiencing some level of drought, reservoirs in major cities have dropped to critically low levels, and officials have urged citizens to conserve water.
    Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Donate today to preserve the quality and integrity of local journalism.
    Tom Murphy, Arkansas Online, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Some Cosmists saw technology as destructive and transformative, while others believed its role should be to protect and preserve.
    Tim Brinkhof, Big Think, 12 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Scant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scant. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.

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