1
2

Synonym Chooser

How is the word scarce distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of scarce are infrequent, rare, sporadic, and uncommon. While all these words mean "not common or abundant," scarce implies falling short of a standard or required abundance.

jobs were scarce during the Depression

When might infrequent be a better fit than scarce?

In some situations, the words infrequent and scarce are roughly equivalent. However, infrequent implies occurrence at wide intervals in space or time.

infrequent family visits

In what contexts can rare take the place of scarce?

The meanings of rare and scarce largely overlap; however, rare suggests extreme scarcity or infrequency and often implies consequent high value.

rare first editions

When is it sensible to use sporadic instead of scarce?

While the synonyms sporadic and scarce are close in meaning, sporadic implies occurrence in scattered instances or isolated outbursts.

sporadic cases of influenza

When would uncommon be a good substitute for scarce?

While in some cases nearly identical to scarce, uncommon suggests a frequency below normal expectation.

smallpox is now uncommon in many countries

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 scarce Especially with minutes being scarce now that Dennis Schröder has occupied the backup point guard duties. Hunter Patterson, The Athletic, 24 Mar. 2025 In a fragmented media landscape where attention is scarce, AI offers brands a clear pathway to stay relevant and resilient—one hyper-personalized campaign at a time. Jeremy Barnett, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025 Though details surrounding the record are scarce, the singer revealed that her ninth album will feature 13 original tracks and is executive produced by Cyrus and Shawn Everett, who previously worked with Kacey Musgraves and Alabama Shakes. Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 24 Mar. 2025 The 2022 lawsuit ended with a settlement, about which details have been scarce — until Ben & Jerry's filed its November 2024 lawsuit. Rachel Treisman, NPR, 20 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for scarce
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scarce
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
Adjective
  • This can manifest in poor financial behaviors like excessive credit card debt, minimal savings, or impulsive investment decisions.
    Shane Enete, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025
  • From the moment the details of the agreement became known, analysts gave the deal a poor prognosis.
    TIME, TIME, 23 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • According to the report, in 2023 and 2024, more than half of rejections at the resonable grounds stage were because a referee had ‘insufficient proof,’ as opposed to just 3% in 2022, before the evidence threshold was changed.
    Frey Lindsay, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025
  • After a police investigation into the allegations, San Bernardino County prosecutors declined to file criminal charges against Labrada, citing insufficient evidence.
    Libor Jany, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Despite multiple promising routines in the practice sessions, Lee’s low score of 11.800 was not enough to send the Olympic Champion to Azerbaijan.
    Caroline Price, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025
  • But after spending most of the day under low stratus clouds, patchy fog and coastal drizzle caused by onshore flow, New Yorkers will likely need an umbrella for the evening hours, as a cold front coming from the west is expected to dump up to three-quarters of an inch of rain.
    Muri Assunção, New York Daily News, 20 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Physically robust forces can have a dangerous Achilles Heel if their cyber defenses are inadequate, which could lead to the entire force being disabled at a stroke.
    David Hambling, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025
  • Risk of muscle loss If protein intake or strength training is inadequate, fasting could lead to muscle breakdown.
    Heather Jones, Verywell Health, 19 Mar. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Scarce.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scarce. Accessed 3 Apr. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on scarce

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!