Definitions

scarce

[skairs] / skɛərs /

ADJECTIVE

insufficient, infrequent

Synonyms

STRONGEST

deficient limited rare scant scanty sparse sporadic

WEAK

at a premium failing few few and far between in short supply occasional seldom seldom met with semioccasional short shortened shy truncated uncommon unusual wanting

Antonyms

STRONGEST

adequate ample plentiful satisfactory sufficient

WEAK

abundant frequent

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Disinflation is scarce: Counterintuitively, big price gains in food and energy are not the real cause of excessive inflation, Faulkner-MacDonagh says.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 8, 2026

If the workforce weren’t growing, many economists would expect to see a faster rise in wages as companies competed with each other to lure scarce talent.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 6, 2026

Land is already so scarce across the archipelago -- halfway between Australia and Hawaii -- that the international airport runway doubles as a makeshift sports field.

From Barron's • Jun. 5, 2026

In forests where nitrogen is scarce, additional nitrogen can initially stimulate biological activity.

From Science Daily • Jun. 2, 2026

Lakes turn to ice and food becomes scarce.

From "We Are the Ants" by Shaun David Hutchinson

Vocabulary lists containing scarce

The Vocabulary.com Top 1000

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List 3

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100 SAT words Beginning with "S"

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