scantiness

noun

Definition of scantinessnext
as in shortage
a falling short of an essential or desirable amount or number the scantiness of grass meant that we had to feed the cows extra hay

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for scantiness
  1. shortage
  2. lack
  3. deficiency
Noun
  • Due to brass shortages, some knives had to be made with wooden handles, out of compressed leather washers, or bakelite plastic.
    — David Szondy August 30, New Atlas, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Some allege that the government has engineered fuel shortages to make an agreement unavoidable, others go further, accusing moderates of staging a coup.
    — Mostafa Salem, CNN Money, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of shortage
Noun
  • This pilot is meant to address a gap the district saw in a lack of specialized personnel to provide prevention education, community engagement and intervention protocols for students using substances.
    — Morgan Matzen, Sioux Falls Argus Leader, 3 Sep. 2026
  • As a result, Japan finds itself in a precarious position, caught between a lack of locals to fill roles in the workforce and a distrust of immigrants who can provide labor.
    — Christine Miyawaki, CNN Money, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of lack
Noun
  • Defensively, the Lions have shown improvement but still have some deficiencies.
    — Kyle Foley, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Aug. 2026
  • There were also no deficiencies in communication with other helicopters in contact with DCA’s traffic control tower.
    — Alexandra Skores, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of deficiency
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.

Browse Nearby Words

scantily
scantiness
scanting
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Cite this Entry

“Scantiness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scantiness. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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