SCANTNESS Synonyms: 80 Similar and Opposite Words

scantness

noun

Definition of scantness

as in shortage

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for scantness

Noun

The system is also grappling with a shortage of air traffic controllers as the agency works to replace aging infrastructure ahead of holiday travel season.

— Joshua Rhett Miller, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Nov. 2026
Ukrainian drone strikes are taking a significant toll on Russia’s oil sector and logistics networks, which means Russian citizens face mounting gas and commodities shortages.

— Charles Kupchan, Foreign Affairs, 13 Nov. 2026

Definition of shortage

Noun

There is also the issue of the scarcity of capable translators, not to mention the fact that the market for Japanese literature during Inoue’s prime was small.

— Nina Mesfin, New Yorker, 8 Nov. 2026
Prices for the commodity have been volatile over the past few years as supplies swung dramatically one season to the next, with climate change, water scarcity, and pest and disease playing a role.

— Sawdah Bhaimiya, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2026

Definition of scarcity

Noun

But that expansion was allowed to expire, and the child poverty rate went back up sharply.

— Letters to the Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Nov. 2026
Every step toward eradicating poverty, expanding access to quality education, advancing gender equality, strengthening democratic institutions, and increasing disaster resilience also eases the conditions that produce violence.

— Pedro Sánchez, Foreign Affairs, 13 Nov. 2026

Definition of poverty

Noun

Another area district leadership pointed to in this year’s results was a significant increase compared to the year prior in the number of teachers with fewer than 10 absences.

— Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune, 8 Nov. 2026
Graham continued to lead the defense, while Clark returned from a two-game absence to provide an offensive spark.

— Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Nov. 2026

Definition of absence

Noun

Obstacles, wind, sensor errors, or other system failures can prevent it from completing the maneuver safely.

— Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 8 Nov. 2026
Coach Mikey Varas has spent the past week asking his players to confront their failure to reach the MLS Cup playoffs rather than simply count down the days until the offseason.

— Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Nov. 2026

Definition of failure

Noun

That working class people live with paucity of choice, and of chances, may be considered from the outside as a moral and social ill to be reckoned with, but Betty correctly sees that this is the fact of her life and behaves and thinks accordingly.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Nov. 2026
The drummer said she was distressed by the paucity of water stations available, and feared the triple-digit heat was a risk for fans.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of paucity

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.

Browse Nearby Words

scantly

scantness

scants

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Scantness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scantness. Accessed 14 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of scantness

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

boilerplate

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

31 Useful Rhetorical Devices

More Commonly Misspelled Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Popular in Wordplay

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Longest Long Words List

The Words of the Week - Nov. 13

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes