Scarceness — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective noun /ˈskers/

Meaning & Definition of Scarceness

Scarceness (adjective)

  1. deficient in quantity or number compared with the demand, not plentiful or abundant
  2. intentionally absent

Scarceness (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a falling short of an essential or desirable amount or number

    "the continuing scarceness of supplies means that we will have to ration ourselves"

    similar: crunch, dearth, deficiency, deficit, drought, failure, famine, inadequacy, inadequateness, insufficiency, lack, lacuna, paucity, pinch, poverty, scantiness, scarcity, shortage, undersupply, want
    related: absence, omission, meagerness, poorness, skimpiness, necessity, need, privation
    opposite: abundance, adequacy, amplitude, opulence, plenitude, plenty, sufficiency, wealth
    near: bountifulness, copiousness, excess, overabundance, oversupply, surfeit, surplus

Related Entry: Scarce (adjective)

Scarce is a different word from Scarceness. The synonyms below are for scarce, not for scarceness.

  1. less plentiful than what is normal, necessary, or desirable

    "food was a bit scarce last winter"

    similar: exiguous, hand-to-mouth, light, meager, poor, scant, scanty, skimp, skimpy, slender, slim, spare, sparing, sparse, stingy, thin on the ground
    related: deficient, inadequate, insufficient, lacking, short, wanting, bare, bare-bones, least, littlest, lowest, mere, minimal, slightest, slight, small, thin, barren, infertile, sterile, unfruitful, unproductive
    opposite: abundant, ample, bountiful, copious, generous, liberal, plenteous, plentiful
    near: adequate, enough, satisfactory, sufficient, tolerable, fat, fecund, fertile, fruitful, prolific, rich, lavish, luxuriant, blooming, bursting, flourishing, proliferative, swarming, teeming, thriving, excess, extra, surplus

  2. not coming up to an expected measure or meeting a particular need

    "help is always scarce in the resort town during the busy summer season"

    similar: deficient, inadequate, insufficient, lacking, low, short, shy, wanting
    related: substandard, unacceptable, unsatisfactory, hand-to-mouth, lean, light, meager, poor, scant, scanty, skimp, skimpy, slender, slim, spare, sparse, stingy, bare, mere, minimum, slight, small
    opposite: adequate, enough, sufficient
    near: abundant, ample, bounteous, bountiful, copious, generous, liberal, plenteous, plentiful, plenitudinous, enlarged, expanded, supplemented, abounding, overflowing, teeming, satisfactory, tolerable, lavish, luxuriant, rich, big, considerable, hefty, jumbo, king-size, large, largish, oversize, sizable, substantial, super

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Scarceness

The most common words with a similar meaning to Scarceness:

crunch, dearth, deficiency, deficit, drought, failure, famine, inadequacy, inadequateness, insufficiency, lack, lacuna, paucity, pinch, poverty, scantiness, scarcity, shortage, undersupply, want

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Scarceness

Words with the opposite meaning of Scarceness:

abundance, adequacy, amplitude, opulence, plenitude, plenty, sufficiency, wealth

Related Words for Scarceness

absence, omission, meagerness, poorness, skimpiness, necessity, need, privation

Near Antonyms of Scarceness

bountifulness, copiousness, excess, overabundance, oversupply, surfeit, surplus

Word Forms of Scarceness

Inflections: scarcer, scarcest

Derived words: scarceness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Scarceness

Middle English scars, from Anglo-French eschars, escars narrow, stingy, deficient, from Vulgar Latin *excarpsus, literally, plucked out, past participle of Latin excerpere to pluck out excerpt

First known use: 14th century

Frequently Asked Questions about Scarceness

What does "Scarceness" mean?

"Scarceness" means deficient in quantity or number compared with the demand, not plentiful or abundant. As an an adjective and a noun, it is defined as: deficient in quantity or number compared with the demand, not plentiful or abundant.

What is another word for "Scarceness"?

Other words for "Scarceness" include crunch, dearth, deficiency, deficit, drought, failure, famine and inadequacy. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Scarceness" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Scarceness"?

There are 28 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Scarceness". Common alternatives include crunch, dearth, deficiency, deficit, drought, failure, famine, inadequacy, inadequateness and insufficiency.

What is the opposite of "Scarceness"?

Antonyms of "Scarceness" include abundance, adequacy, amplitude, opulence, plenitude, plenty, sufficiency and wealth. Near antonyms include bountifulness, copiousness, excess and overabundance.

How do you use "Scarceness" in a sentence?

Examples of "Scarceness" in a sentence: "the continuing scarceness of supplies means that we will have to ration ourselves".

Is "Scarceness" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Scarceness" can be used as an adjective and a noun, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Scarceness"?

"Scarceness" is pronounced /ˈskers/.

What is the origin of the word "Scarceness"?

"Scarceness" comes from Middle English scars, from Anglo-French eschars, escars narrow, stingy, deficient, from Vulgar Latin *excarpsus, literally, plucked out, past participle of Latin excerpere to pluck out excerpt. First known use: 14th century.