dearth

noun

ˈdərth How to pronounce dearth (audio)
Definition of dearthnext
1
as in shortage
a falling short of an essential or desirable amount or number there was a dearth of usable firewood at the campsite

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in lack
the fact or state of being absent the dearth of salesclerks at the shoe store annoyed us

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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 dearth Now, new research shows just how dire the state of healthcare is in these areas, particularly because of a dearth of surgeons in places across the United States. — Justin Klawans, TheWeek, 5 Oct. 2026 And considering the dearth of new mainstream stars — outside of Doechii and Don Toliver, other emerging talents have yet to commercially break through — hip-hop veterans have more of an opening to notch genuine hits. — Michael Saponara, Billboard, 5 Oct. 2026 After the peak of fame and power with the Royal Academy exhibition in 1997, which toured to the Hamburger Bahnhof in Berlin and the Brooklyn Museum of Art, there was a dearth of interest in the YBAs for a decade or so. — Eliza Goodpasture, ARTnews.com, 5 Oct. 2026 The city’s dearth of affordable housing has been a leading issue in the race. — Jacqueline Ganun, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for dearth
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dearth
  1. shortage
  2. lack
  3. absence
Noun
  • Musk has repeatedly treated the sports car as a lower priority than Tesla’s other projects, while also blaming supply chain shortages for earlier delays.
    — Bilin Lin, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026
  • The state prison system experiences chronic staffing shortages of corrections officers, nurses and physicians.
    — Jaquelyn Jahn, The Conversation, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of shortage
Noun
  • High energy costs, coupled with record exits of foreign investors from its capital markets due to risk aversion and the lack of artificial intelligence play, have kept the rupee under pressure.
    — Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026
  • What should make all hardcore wheelmen and wheelwomen happy is the lack of a huge center screen.
    — Caleb Jacobs, The Drive, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of lack
Noun
  • The absence of an endorsement was a setback for the Likud politician, who had billed his tight ties to the Republican president as a selling point for staying in power.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 19 Oct. 2026
  • But in the absence of any federal rules, cities and states have been flexing their authority in an effort to bring order to some of the chaos.
    — Andrew Hawkins, The Verge, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of absence

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Cite this Entry

“Dearth.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dearth. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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