sparser; sparsest
Synonyms of sparsenext
: of few and scattered elements
especially : not thickly grown or settled
sparsely adverb
sparseness noun
sparsity noun
Choose the Right Synonym for sparse

meager, scanty, scant, skimpy, spare, sparse mean falling short of what is normal, necessary, or desirable.

meager implies the absence of elements, qualities, or numbers necessary to a thing's richness, substance, or potency.

a meager portion of meat

scanty stresses insufficiency in amount, quantity, or extent.

supplies too scanty to last the winter

scant suggests a falling short of what is desired or desirable rather than of what is essential.

in January the daylight hours are scant

skimpy usually suggests niggardliness or penury as the cause of the deficiency.

tacky housing developments on skimpy lots

spare may suggest a slight falling short of adequacy or merely an absence of superfluity.

a spare, concise style of writing

sparse implies a thin scattering of units.

a sparse population

Examples of sparse in a Sentence

open land is sparse around here
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
How to Prune String of Hearts String of hearts tends to grow long and sparse, with most of the fullness gradually drifting away from the pot, says Rachael Kemery, founder of Rising Iris Farm. Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 6 Feb. 2026 Details are still sparse, but the governor insists a public option would save money for residents and the state. Katy Golvala, Hartford Courant, 5 Feb. 2026 The problem is the AI models that help come up with drug candidates are still very inaccurate, largely because the data used to train these models is sparse and incomplete. Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 4 Feb. 2026 Other kidnapping and fugitive cases have been solved with the assistance of technology like cameras and license plate readers, but such technology is likely sparse in the Tucson area compared to larger metropolitan locations. Josh Campbell, CNN Money, 4 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sparse

Word History

Etymology

Latin sparsus spread out, from past participle of spargere to scatter — more at spark

First Known Use

1753, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sparse was in 1753

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sparse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sparse. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.

Kids Definition

sparse

adjective
sparser; sparsest
: of few and scattered elements
especially : not thickly grown or settled
sparsely adverb
sparseness noun
sparsity noun

More from Merriam-Webster on sparse

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