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

Basic food items such as vegetable oil and sugar became scarce on store shelves, Moscow’s then ambassador to Pyongyang told Russian state media in 2021.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 8, 2026

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

From Science Daily • Jun. 2, 2026

Rubbish bins are notoriously scarce in Japan, partly due to safety concerns after past terror attacks in the country and abroad.

From BBC • Jun. 1, 2026

Money is scarce, so she waitresses to help her family.

From "The Sun Is Also a Star" by Nicola Yoon

Vocabulary lists containing scarce

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List 3

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100 SAT words Beginning with "S"

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