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scarce

scarce

103 4.8
Not enough of something for people who need it
  • adjective
  • /skɛrs/
translation icon : escaso
  • As fresh water becomes increasingly scarce, conflicts over water emerge among countries that share rivers.
  • scarce resources
  • become scarce
  • allocation of scarce resources

Attention becomes maybe the most scarce resource of all.

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Examples

  • Prices were down, credit was scarce, and talk of bank foreclosures was in the air.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • The war had made fuel and lamp oil scarce.

  • Attention becomes maybe the most scarce resource of all.

  • Food is still scarce in their territory.

  • Of course you know that in the past, because food was scarce, some people never ate much.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • Even family ties have no meaning when food is scarce.

  • What was once an abundant resource is now becoming increasingly scarce, and resulting social conflicts are increasing.

    Academic text (1999)
  • In many regions, clean drinking water is scarce due to prolonged drought.

  • During the pandemic, medical supplies became scarce as hospitals struggled to keep up with demand.

  • With wildfires becoming more frequent, affordable housing near safe areas is increasingly scarce.

Synonyms

rare
vsscarce
582 4.1

Not common and appearing in only a few places

focuses on shortage due to supply lower than demand rather than being unusual
uncommon
vsscarce
122 4.6

Not often found or seen and so rare

highlights shortage due to insufficient supply rather than mere unusualness
insufficient
vsscarce
86 3.6

Not enough in amount or quality to meet a need

implies shortage because supply is lower than demand
deficient
vsscarce
35 4.3

Not having enough of something needed

refers to shortage because supply fails to meet demand
scanty
vsscarce
2 6.6

A small amount or number that is barely enough

means there is less available than people need or want

Antonyms

104 3.7

More than enough for what is needed

77 3.0

Present in large amounts or more than needed

48 2.5

There is more than enough of something

How Scarce

unavailable
81 3.4
scarce
103 4.8
rare
582 4.1
limited
393 2.5
abundant
77 3.0

Surface Forms

scarce positive
scarcer comparative
scarcest superlative

Etymology

Scarce comes from an old word meaning 'not enough' and is the same root as scarcity, which shows the idea of a very small amount. So, when something is scarce it is hard to find because there is not enough of it.