dearth

noun

ˈdərth

Synonyms of dearth next

: scarcity that makes dear

specifically : famine

: an inadequate supply : lack

a dearth of evidence

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Where does the word dearth come from?

Dearth has, in one form or another, been used to refer to scarcity since at least the 13th century, when it often referred specifically to the plague of famine (as in “a time of dearth”), whether brought on by an insidious crop disease or by invaders. The word traces back to the Old English adjective dēore, meaning “dear” (dēore is also the ancestor of dear, which also once meant “scarce,” though that sense is now obsolete). That notion of dearness or importance endures in dearth, which implies the absence or scarcity of not just any old thing, but of something one wants or needs. A dearth of mauls, for example, would be the bane of a woodcutter’s existence.

Examples of dearth in a Sentence

It may also be a respite for booksellers, who have been grumbling for several years about sluggish sales and a dearth of dependable blockbuster fiction. —

Julie Bosman, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2006

… Earnhardt has recently hinted that a company-wide dearth of talent is the core reason his Chevy simply isn't as fast in 2005 as it's been in the past. —

Lars Anderson, Sports Illustrated, 11 Apr. 2006

AirNet, which hauls bank checks and other time-critical freight, used to require that its pilots have at least 1,200 hours of flight experience. Then, faced with a dearth of experienced applicants, it dropped the requirement to 500 hours. Now, it has no minimum. —

Scott McCartney, Wall Street Journal, 10 Aug. 2000

there was a dearth of usable firewood at the campsite the dearth of salesclerks at the shoe store annoyed us

Recent Examples on the Web

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.

The dearth of health and safety protocols in post-grad football is particularly concerning because of the dangerous nature of the sport and the demographics of those who play, Stearns said. —

Kenny Jacoby, USA TODAY, 12 Dec. 2024 Starting Pitching Options For New York Yankees A lucrative free agent market exists for starting pitchers as ball clubs are willing to pay amid a dearth of top-tier talent. —

Wayne G. McDonnell, Jr., Forbes, 7 Dec. 2024 To be more specific, the rapid surge in warming was supercharged by a dearth of low-lying clouds over the oceans, according to the research — findings which may have alarming implications for future warming. —

Laura Paddison, CNN, 5 Dec. 2024 The new class of free agents includes lots of starting pitching when starting pitching is less important than ever and a dearth of leverage relievers when leverage relievers are coveted more than ever. —

Steve Henson, Orlando Sentinel, 3 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for dearth