1
as in sparse
less plentiful than what is normal, necessary, or desirable
food was a bit scarce last winter
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in lacking
not coming up to an expected measure or meeting a particular need
help is always scarce in the resort town during the busy summer season
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of scarce
The second part will examine how water conservation advocates bet on sports gambling to obtain funding to rescue communities and industries dependent on the state’s scarce water resources.
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Noelle Phillips,
Denver Post,
18 June 2026
Essential fatty acids are also critical — the human brain is nearly 60% fat — and storing fat about the body is a priority for times when food is scarce.
—
Sandee Lamotte,
CNN Money,
17 June 2026
As the days wore on, the contestants battled relentless heat, humidity and scarce resources while trying to keep their camps functioning.
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Samantha Stutsman,
PEOPLE,
16 June 2026
In finance, this might mean a trade when buyers or sellers are scarce, or unable to transact at the same time.
—
Gary Sernovitz,
New Yorker,
15 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for scarce
Noelle Phillips,
Denver Post,
18 June 2026
Essential fatty acids are also critical — the human brain is nearly 60% fat — and storing fat about the body is a priority for times when food is scarce.
—
Sandee Lamotte,
CNN Money,
17 June 2026
As the days wore on, the contestants battled relentless heat, humidity and scarce resources while trying to keep their camps functioning.
—
Samantha Stutsman,
PEOPLE,
16 June 2026
In finance, this might mean a trade when buyers or sellers are scarce, or unable to transact at the same time.
—
Gary Sernovitz,
New Yorker,
15 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for scarce
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scarce
Adjective
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And the deals extend well beyond skin care, with discounts on hair and makeup products that address everything from early signs of thinning hair and sparse brows to dull complexions in need of a natural-looking flush.
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In the stage-show memoir the movie keeps cutting to, Asher, now in his early eighties, with sparse red hair and tortoise-shell glasses, describes all of this in his mild and menschy way.
Adjective
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An honest review would tell you the coordination was a little lacking in this particular bit of maritime cosplay.
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While sports governing bodies such as FIFA and the International Olympic Committee have come to recognize that press freedom is an essential part of their commitments to uphold human rights, results are vastly lacking.
Adjective
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Rebecca Lowe joins Dan Patrick to discuss some of the top storylines around the World Cup, including Cristiano Ronaldo's poor play to start, the United States' potential and more.
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Will the gap between rural and urban America – and the gap between rich and poor America – decline or grow?
Adjective
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However, in some areas, there are complaints that there is still insufficient personnel to accelerate the search.
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More recent reviews conclude that while reishi demonstrates promising anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties, there is currently insufficient high-quality clinical evidence to confirm its effectiveness for treating seasonal allergies or other allergic conditions in humans.
Adjective
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Hien immediately fell to the ground and had to be helped off the pitch with what appeared to be a lower-body injury.
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Wenski’s remarks come as many in South Florida, the heart of the Haitian community in the country, are reeling after the justices reversed a lower court ruling upholding TPS protections for Haitians.
Adjective
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But Dr Hon Pak, Samsung’s Senior Vice President and Head of the Digital Health Team, feels that model is increasingly inadequate for a world grappling with ageing populations, rising healthcare costs and an epidemic of chronic disease.
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Newsom in March publicly warned 15 California cities about their inadequate housing plans.
Cite this Entry
“Scarce.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scarce. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.
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