as in shortage
a falling short of an essential or desirable amount or number
the scarcity of good restaurants around here is surprising
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Recent Examples of scarcity
Capitalism and colonialism thrive on stories of scarcity.
—
Colin Bedell, Them., 18 Apr. 2025
According to the National Assn. of Home Builders, scarcity and an acute, sustained rise in building material costs — for items as diverse as softwood lumber and electricity distribution transformers — are driving up the cost to construct homes and harming housing affordability.
—Roger Vincent, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2025
For decades, scientists have presumed that Earth’s atmosphere alone explains the scarcity of carbonaceous meteorites, but our work indicates that much of the removal occurs beforehand in space.
—Patrick M. Shober, The Conversation, 14 Apr. 2025
In a season obsessed with the impact of money on a person’s soul, whether scarcity can be as much a motivator as abundance, and the dilemma of what happens after giving one’s brother a hand job, Rick’s story was perhaps the most straightforward.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 7 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scarcity
Colin Bedell, Them., 18 Apr. 2025
According to the National Assn. of Home Builders, scarcity and an acute, sustained rise in building material costs — for items as diverse as softwood lumber and electricity distribution transformers — are driving up the cost to construct homes and harming housing affordability.
—Roger Vincent, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2025
For decades, scientists have presumed that Earth’s atmosphere alone explains the scarcity of carbonaceous meteorites, but our work indicates that much of the removal occurs beforehand in space.
—Patrick M. Shober, The Conversation, 14 Apr. 2025
In a season obsessed with the impact of money on a person’s soul, whether scarcity can be as much a motivator as abundance, and the dilemma of what happens after giving one’s brother a hand job, Rick’s story was perhaps the most straightforward.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 7 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scarcity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scarcity
Noun
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Earlier this month, analysts at BTIG said tariffs could make dining operators like Texas Roadhouse vulnerable to supply chain disruptions and product shortages.—
Natasha Abellard,
CNBC,
25 Apr. 2025
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What these Deals Tell Us About Investor Demand The first quarter transactions in Brooklyn and Manhattan signal robust investor confidence in free market multifamily, driven by the appeal of assets with minimal regulatory constraints and the city's persistent housing shortage.—
Shimon Shkury,
Forbes.com,
25 Apr. 2025
Noun
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His quickness getting across the crease, his evident athleticism, more than made up for any lack of experience.—
Mark Lazerus,
New York Times,
20 Apr. 2025
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Additionally, only 10% of indie authors and publishers earn more than $10,000 annually, often due to a lack of promotional strategy.—
Chris Gallagher,
USA Today,
19 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Scarcity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scarcity. Accessed 2 May. 2025.
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