scarcer; scarcest
1
: deficient in quantity or number compared with the demand : not plentiful or abundant
2
: intentionally absent
made himself scarce at inspection time
scarceness
noun
Examples of scarce in a Sentence
Adjective
Food was getting scarce during the drought.
food was a bit scarce last winter
Adverb
I could scarce believe what I was hearing.
Recent Examples on the Web
Malana Vantyler, USA Today, 13 Feb. 2026
Physical space is scarce, and editors are elusive, but readers are everywhere.
—Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 13 Feb. 2026
In the 2010s, as prescription opioids became more scarce, thousands of Americans switched to heroin, some forms of which are less bioavailable when smoked.
—Lev Facher, STAT, 12 Feb. 2026
As winter drags on, food can become scarce for animals such as deer, rabbits, mice, and voles.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 12 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for scarce
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Adjective
Years of building companies have shown him that the journey asks for time that feels scarce, financial commitment that tests confidence, and emotional resilience that grows through experience.
—Malana Vantyler, USA Today, 13 Feb. 2026
Physical space is scarce, and editors are elusive, but readers are everywhere.
—Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 13 Feb. 2026
In the 2010s, as prescription opioids became more scarce, thousands of Americans switched to heroin, some forms of which are less bioavailable when smoked.
—Lev Facher, STAT, 12 Feb. 2026
As winter drags on, food can become scarce for animals such as deer, rabbits, mice, and voles.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 12 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for scarce
Cite this Entry
“Scarce.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scarce. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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