SCARCE Synonyms: 98 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

scarce

adjective

ˈskers

Definition of scarce

as in sparse

less plentiful than what is normal, necessary, or desirable food was a bit scarce last winter

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in lacking

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 That their deposits must already be so scarce—and their profits so scant—that the industry needs government protection just to survive. — Omid Malekan, Fortune, 21 Aug. 2026 Part of the reason Jordan doesn’t have more tallies on the list is because his 1986 Fleer rookie card isn’t super scarce. — Larry Holder, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026 But this year, a severe drought in Colorado and across several Western states has made scarce the natural foods bears enjoy. — Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 20 Aug. 2026 The tech offers a vastly safer and more sustainable solution for mass-producing grid-scale energy storage by replacing toxic, scarce metals and flammable solvents with non-toxic, eco-friendly materials. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 20 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for scarce

Recent Examples of Synonyms for scarce

Adjective

Even within the sparse and widely untouched sector, CBP is not beginning from zero.

— Nicole Sganga, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026
Those funds have grown ever sparser as the administration of new President Jose Antonio Kast, who took office in March, has announced cuts to the Ministry of Culture and various competitive funds for the Arts.

— Anna Marie de la Fuente, Variety, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of sparse

Adjective

Where to Stay Ely hosts a handful of hotels and motels within town limits, but true luxury accommodations are somewhat lacking.

— Stephanie Vermillion, Travel + Leisure, 18 Aug. 2026
Which is to say quality constraints on what Paramount could conceivably dump into theaters are totally lacking.

— Chris Lee, Vulture, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of lacking

Adjective

On the other lies a park in one of the Bronx’s poorest communities, built on the site of the former Yankee Stadium after the old home of the Yankees was torn down in 2009 and 2010.

— Sam Blum, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
Iran’s economy was in a dire state before the war too, with poor economic conditions a key driving factor behind the anti-regime demonstrations which kicked off in the Iranian capital city Tehran in 2025.

— Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of poor

Adjective

Toth said that the city had previously addressed allegations made by Saloum in the MDCR investigation, in which the MDCR determined there was insufficient evidence and dismissed Saloum's complaint.

— Karma Sabbah, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026
And, 94, roughly 20%, were medical grievances related to insufficient medical care and denial of medications.

— Vanessa Romo, NPR, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of insufficient

Adjective

Achane will also go from a QB with one of the league’s highest checkdown rates to a QB with one of the lowest.

— Jess Bryant, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026
This week, Australian biotechnology company Mesolab announced that its Phase 3 trial of rexlemestrocel-L for chronic low back pain (CLBP) now moves beyond the patient-treatment stage.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of low

Adjective

Deadly fires, often linked to electrical faults or gas cylinder explosions, are common in India where investigators have frequently pointed to safety lapses and inadequate enforcement of fire regulations as contributing to recurring loss of life.

— ABC News, ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026
Having just a dozen countermunitions for interceptions also proved inadequate in the face of large numbers of Ukrainian drones.

— Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of inadequate

Browse Nearby Words

scaramouches

scarce

scarcely

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“Scarce.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scarce. Accessed 24 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of scarce

adjective

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