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Definitions

slim pickings

NOUN
dearth
Synonyms
STRONGEST
absence deficiency inadequacy lack paucity shortage
STRONG
default defect famine infrequency meagerness miss need poverty privation rareness scantiness scantness sparsity uncommonness want
WEAK
exiguousness
Antonyms
STRONGEST
abundance adequacy enough plenty sufficiency
STRONG
advantage luxury perfection success wealth
WEAK
excess plentifulness
PRONOUN
few
Synonyms
STRONGEST
several some
STRONG
scattering smattering spattering sprinkling
WEAK
not many not too many small number smatter
Antonyms
WEAK
many much

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.

The drink lineup was solid, much better than the slim pickings at my $89 beach day in the Dominican Republic a few days earlier.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 11, 2026

“While it’s slim pickings for labor market data right now, Wednesday’s ADP update at least gave investors some reassurance that the jobs market isn’t falling apart,” writes Bret Kenwell, eToro U.S. investment analyst.

From Barron's • Nov. 5, 2025

But these are slim pickings for a movement that once dominated the European scene.

From BBC • Jun. 5, 2024

It wasn’t the greatest “Weekend Update” guest segment of late, but as with the rest of the episode, it was slim pickings this week.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 21, 2024

Probably there are only jellyfish and tiny crabs, but even with those slim pickings we have snorkeled at the tiny beach, always.

From "We Were Liars" by E. Lockhart