scarcity

noun

ˈsker-sə-tē How to pronounce scarcity (audio)
Definition of scarcitynext
as in shortage
a falling short of an essential or desirable amount or number the scarcity of good restaurants around here is surprising

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 scarcity What’s Happening The clearest consumer breakout came in August 2023, when Trader Joe’s frozen kimbap sold out nationally after social-media amplification and in-store scarcity. — Lauren Schuster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Oct. 2026 With the genre’s scarcity on the charts in 2026 — so far, Drake is the only rapper to notch a top 10 hit on the Hot 100 this year as a lead artist — flipping a once-big hit might seem like an easy remedy. — Michael Saponara, Billboard, 5 Oct. 2026 That came out of, in part, speaking to so many people in our field and just in the city in general about what needs there are in the ecosystem, one of which is that space is a scarcity. — Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 2 Oct. 2026 Why scarcity matters in vintage fashion resale Scarcity is another big piece of the puzzle. — Ashley Lynch, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for scarcity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scarcity
  1. shortage
  2. lack
Noun
  • What to do nearby There’s no shortage to do in Vancouver and Azur is right in the heart of it.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Oct. 2026
  • The Albanian Manufacturing Association warned this week that nearly 150 garment factories have closed and roughly 25,000 jobs have been lost in recent years amid declining exports, high production costs, labor shortages and the euro’s depreciation.
    — Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of shortage
Noun
  • Nearly all its arrangements hew to a standard radio-pop format, and in the record’s back half this lack of imagination becomes tiresome.
    — Enzo Escober, Pitchfork, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Wednesday’s filing marks the latest escalation in the legal fight over conditions at the facility and the government’s lack of compliance with the court’s directives.
    — Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of lack

Browse Nearby Words

scarcities
scarcity
scare
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Cite this Entry

“Scarcity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scarcity. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on scarcity

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about scarcity

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