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scant

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verb

as in to spare
to use or give out in stingy amounts don't scant the peanut butter on those sandwiches!

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective scant differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of scant are meager, scanty, skimpy, spare, and sparse. While all these words mean "falling short of what is normal, necessary, or desirable," scant suggests a falling short of what is desired or desirable rather than of what is essential.

in January the daylight hours are scant

When is meager a more appropriate choice than scant?

The meanings of meager and scant largely overlap; however, meager implies the absence of elements, qualities, or numbers necessary to a thing's richness, substance, or potency.

a meager portion of meat

When could scanty be used to replace scant?

The words scanty and scant are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, scanty stresses insufficiency in amount, quantity, or extent.

supplies too scanty to last the winter

When can skimpy be used instead of scant?

The synonyms skimpy and scant are sometimes interchangeable, but skimpy usually suggests niggardliness or penury as the cause of the deficiency.

tacky housing developments on skimpy lots

When might spare be a better fit than scant?

While in some cases nearly identical to scant, spare may suggest a slight falling short of adequacy or merely an absence of superfluity.

a spare, concise style of writing

When is it sensible to use sparse instead of scant?

The words sparse and scant can be used in similar contexts, but sparse implies a thin scattering of units.

a sparse population

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of scant
Adjective
The announcement Friday from Apple TV+ includes scant details about the one-season renewal, although it's expected that 10 new episodes will air in 2026. Marco Della Cava, USA TODAY, 14 Mar. 2025 Now the building will join the scant commercial storefronts along that stretch of Champa (including the popular Curtis Park Deli) as a gelato shop called Cassadys. John Wenzel, The Denver Post, 13 Mar. 2025
Verb
There were few roads or trails or even paths to follow and scant potable water, but plenty of pit vipers and tarantulas. Ellen Ruppel Shell, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Apr. 2022 In most cases, the Electoral College vote is a mere formality that carries no drama and garners scant public attention. Gilbert Garcia, ExpressNews.com, 18 Dec. 2020 See All Example Sentences for scant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scant
Adjective
  • Narratives were sparse to nonexistent, with more than one person commenting after the screenings some of the films were closer to commercials than short films.
    Winston Cho, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Mar. 2025
  • In Central Texas, early bloomers are a bit sparse this year — but that leaves more room for later spring and summer flowers to thrive.
    Shafaq Patel, Axios, 21 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • What was uncertainty on whether or not Trump would spare the auto industry from import tariffs now is all but a fait accompli.
    Ed Garsten, Forbes.com, 26 Mar. 2025
  • Ars Video Such a module would isolate the satellites from the space environment, sparing their batteries and sensitive electronics from harsh thermal cycles every 90 minutes, and provide some shielding from radiation.
    Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 26 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Details of who makes up the DOGE staff have been scarce despite the intense media attention on the team's efforts.
    Sarah D. Wire, USA Today, 28 Mar. 2025
  • As a rule, if rain is scarce, a crepe myrtle needs two to three gallons of water per inch of trunk diameter per week.
    Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 26 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Under the thoughtful stewardship of its current owners, the forested land is being conserved and the gardens have been lovingly reimagined to pay tribute to their original designer, Ellen Biddle Shipman, one of America’s first female landscape architects.
    Amy Astley, Architectural Digest, 18 Mar. 2025
  • In the quest for sustainability, industries must innovate and embrace water-saving practices to conserve resources, reduce costs and protect the environment.
    Sahit Muja, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • The hotel’s size, scale, and architectural signatures have been preserved, but the Veranda House now has updated ADA-compliant rooms and common spaces and new-and-improved amenities.
    Mae Hamilton, Travel + Leisure, 21 Mar. 2025
  • The administration has promised that certain federal education grants, including for low-income and rural schools, would be preserved.
    Brittney Melton, NPR, 21 Mar. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Scant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scant. Accessed 2 Apr. 2025.

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