as in shortage
a falling short of an essential or desirable amount or number
there's a famine of good general practitioners in many rural areas
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Recent Examples of famine
With increasing displacement caused by war, civil violence, famine, and climate catastrophe, the pressures at borders across the world are unprecedented.
—
Edward Alden, Foreign Affairs, 6 Mar. 2025
Hundreds of aid trucks had entered daily since the ceasefire began on Jan. 19, easing fears of famine raised by international experts.
—Samy Magdy, Chicago Tribune, 2 Mar. 2025
The website of the famine early warning network has gone dark.
—Somini Sengupta, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2025
After two years of war, over 30 million people – more than half of them children – are living in the grip of mass atrocities, famine and deadly disease.
—Dr. Ewelina U. Ochab, Forbes, 16 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for famine
Edward Alden, Foreign Affairs, 6 Mar. 2025
Hundreds of aid trucks had entered daily since the ceasefire began on Jan. 19, easing fears of famine raised by international experts.
—Samy Magdy, Chicago Tribune, 2 Mar. 2025
The website of the famine early warning network has gone dark.
—Somini Sengupta, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2025
After two years of war, over 30 million people – more than half of them children – are living in the grip of mass atrocities, famine and deadly disease.
—Dr. Ewelina U. Ochab, Forbes, 16 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for famine
Recent Examples of Synonyms for famine
Noun
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Those shortages have allowed compounding pharmacies to produce and sell their own versions of GLP-1 drugs.—
Fran Kritz,
Verywell Health,
21 Mar. 2025
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Analysis by the think tank outlines how despite Putin's record spending, Russia's military industrial complex (MIC) is still beset by labor and component shortages, a collapse in arms exports and difficulties in modernizing.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
21 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Many opponents to the legislation have submitted testimony about a lack of public hearings and participation prior to the bills being introduced in the General Assembly.—
Noël Fletcher,
Forbes.com,
27 Mar. 2025
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Even when the claims are ridiculous, or Rahma vehemently disagrees, the lack of time to dwell gives the videos a sense of both urgency and fun.—
CT Jones,
Rolling Stone,
26 Mar. 2025
Noun
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However, most of the first quarter was plagued by scoring droughts by both sides, but LSU did end the quarter with a 7-0 run to take the lead 13-9.—
Allison Smith,
Forbes.com,
31 Mar. 2025
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That’s almost 2½ inches below normal — about the thickness of a paperback book — putting most of Central Florida into abnormally dry or moderate drought conditions, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Drought Monitor.—
Martin E. Comas,
The Orlando Sentinel,
30 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Famine.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/famine. Accessed 3 Apr. 2025.
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