Synonyms of scarcity

scarcity

noun

ˈsker-sə-tē 

as in shortage

a falling short of an essential or desirable amount or number

the scarcity of good restaurants around here is surprising

Synonyms & Similar Words

• shortage
• lack
• deficiency
• paucity
• deficit
• drought
• famine
• poverty
• inadequacy
• absence
• dearth
• insufficiency
• undersupply
• scarceness
• crunch
• scantiness
• lacuna
• inadequateness
• failure
• pinch
• omission
• necessity
• want
• privation
• meagerness
• skimpiness
• need
• poorness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• abundance
• wealth
• sufficiency
• adequacy
• plenty
• amplitude
• opulence
• plenitude
• surplus
• excess
• overabundance
• oversupply
• surfeit
• copiousness
• bountifulness

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of scarcity

These economies will likely suffer shortages in the case of further oil and gas scarcity as reserves run out and they are outbid on the remaining supply. — Idrees Kahloon, The Atlantic, 9 July 2026

The second force McKillips points to is scarcity — not of money, but of time. — Nia Bowers, USA Today, 8 July 2026

Managing scarcity through digital modeling While deuterium is highly abundant and easily extracted from standard seawater, tritium is exceedingly scarce in nature. — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 5 July 2026

To add to the problem, ordinary Cubans face malnutrition due to scarcity and high food prices. — Sarah Moreno july 1, Miami Herald, 1 July 2026