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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 the Porters, who entered the season with scant varsity experience, have gone 6-7 in three-game matches to fall below .500. Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 9 May 2025 Details were scant and authorities had not yet identified the woman Tuesday evening, but asked for the public’s help in finding her assailant. Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 7 May 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
  • The production must be sparse, so the vocal isn’t overpowered.
    Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 11 May 2025
  • Reversing these trends is difficult, especially since data is sparse on species declines, which is key to getting them legal protections.
    Katarina Zimmer, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 May 2025
Verb
  • The conventional wisdom is that the startup sector has been spared the impacts of tariffs because startups are often service providers in tech, software, web, crypto, AI etc.
    Nish Acharya, Forbes.com, 13 May 2025
  • Trails need help—money, time, energy—that many working Americans do not have the ability to spare.
    Grayson Haver Currin, Outside Online, 12 May 2025
Adjective
  • These alliances are particularly beneficial for smaller organizations that stand to gain from pooled resources or those in regions where talent is scarce but demand for specialized staff is high.
    Randy Wong, Forbes.com, 14 May 2025
  • Ahead of Pink Elephant, the Montreal collective known for its insistent politics and uplifting lyricism was scarce and guarded in its direct communications.
    Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 13 May 2025
Verb
  • In Dubai, a hotel uses AI to dynamically adjust water pressure and temperature in real time, conserving millions of liters annually.
    Dan Drogman, Forbes.com, 16 May 2025
  • The radioisotope power generators that keep them running gradually weaken each year, forcing NASA to recently shut down instruments and heaters to conserve energy in order to push the spacecrafts' systems beyond their limits.
    Victoria Corless, Space.com, 15 May 2025
Verb
  • Once again, the Edge had virtually no problem stripping out background music from a sample video, while preserving the speaker's voice.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 20 May 2025
  • Nitrates are commonly added to meat to preserve it, but unlike many fruits and vegetables, meats lack helpful antioxidants.
    Ann Pietrangelo, Verywell Health, 20 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Scant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scant. Accessed 24 May. 2025.

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