1
as in sparse
less plentiful than what is normal, necessary, or desirable
food was a bit scarce last winter
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Unless their families can find and afford scarce legal representation, the children could be at risk of getting detained or could be forced to face a judge alone, advocates and attorneys said.
—
Laura Rodríguez Presa, Chicago Tribune, 20 July 2025
Food in the strip is scarce, and people are starving, according to multiple UN assessments.
—Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 19 July 2025
To pull off the ultimate heist in a world where trust is scarce, Halston must assemble an unlikely crew of fixers, including an expert in forgery, a merciless mob boss, and an eccentric fashion designer.
—Ellise Shafer, Variety, 16 July 2025
Longevity Delivers More Than Health These stories prove what’s possible, even when resources are scarce.
—Sylvana Quader Sinha, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for scarce
Laura Rodríguez Presa, Chicago Tribune, 20 July 2025
Food in the strip is scarce, and people are starving, according to multiple UN assessments.
—Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 19 July 2025
To pull off the ultimate heist in a world where trust is scarce, Halston must assemble an unlikely crew of fixers, including an expert in forgery, a merciless mob boss, and an eccentric fashion designer.
—Ellise Shafer, Variety, 16 July 2025
Longevity Delivers More Than Health These stories prove what’s possible, even when resources are scarce.
—Sylvana Quader Sinha, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for scarce
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scarce
Adjective
-
In her prominent book Atlas of AI, renowned Microsoft researcher and academic Kate Crawford documents the vast extractive needs of AI but notes that detailed analysis of materials that will be needed has been sparse.—
Saleem H. Ali,
Forbes.com,
21 July 2025
-
Regulations in Hong Kong around the technology are currently sparse.—
Mithil Aggarwal,
NBC news,
17 July 2025
Adjective
-
Spurred by climate change, Canadian wildfires have increasingly exacerbated poor air quality across Milwaukee and southern Wisconsin.—
Maia Pandey,
jsonline.com,
24 July 2025
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Other critical factors that led to several brands exiting Japan, like Ford in 2016, were insufficient product lineups, and a poor dealer network.—
Peter Lyon,
Forbes.com,
23 July 2025
Adjective
-
Tax revenues alone are insufficient to cover the government’s expenses.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
15 July 2025
-
The comments coincided with the 10-year anniversary of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which was originally intended to halt Iran’s nuclear ambitions, but which some have argued was insufficient to adequately deter Tehran.—
Caitlin McFall,
FOXNews.com,
14 July 2025
Adjective
-
In the United States, a measles outbreak that originated in a part of West Texas that has a low vaccination rate continues to spread, and there have been more measles cases reported in the US this year than any other since the disease was declared eliminated a quarter-century ago.—
Jacqueline Howard,
CNN Money,
15 July 2025
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Europe’s Stoxx 600 index closed 0.06% lower on Monday, after shaving off losses late in the day to finish at a session high.—
Chloe Taylor,Holly Ellyatt,
CNBC,
15 July 2025
Adjective
-
However, nearly half still reported inadequate resources and technology for combating financial crime.—
Sheryl Estrada,
Fortune,
21 July 2025
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Inspectors noted that the establishment was under construction at the time and had inadequate refrigeration.—
Lillie Davidson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
20 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Scarce.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scarce. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
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