1
as in shortage
a falling short of an essential or desirable amount or number
there was a dearth of usable firewood at the campsite
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in lack
the fact or state of being absent
the dearth of salesclerks at the shoe store annoyed us
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dearth
Considering the worldwide dearth of honest information, even in legacy media, the Sun Sentinel should be the flagship in reporting the facts and just the facts (about the Florida TaxWatch report mentioned in Steve Bousquet’s column, for example).
—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 15 Apr. 2026
There could be a bigger dearth of small-school names called in this year’s draft on April 23-25 in Pittsburgh because of the 319 prospects invited to the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis, only 17 were from nonpower conference schools.
—Arnie Stapleton, Chicago Tribune, 11 Apr. 2026
In the lead-up to the killings in Gombe, there was a dearth of females ready to mate, some of the friendliest older males died and the group experienced a change in alpha male.
—Evan Bush, NBC news, 9 Apr. 2026
There could be a bigger dearth of small-school names called in this year's draft on April 23-25 in Pittsburgh because of the 319 prospects invited to the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis, only 17 were from nonpower conference schools.
—ABC News, 9 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dearth
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 15 Apr. 2026
There could be a bigger dearth of small-school names called in this year’s draft on April 23-25 in Pittsburgh because of the 319 prospects invited to the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis, only 17 were from nonpower conference schools.
—Arnie Stapleton, Chicago Tribune, 11 Apr. 2026
In the lead-up to the killings in Gombe, there was a dearth of females ready to mate, some of the friendliest older males died and the group experienced a change in alpha male.
—Evan Bush, NBC news, 9 Apr. 2026
There could be a bigger dearth of small-school names called in this year's draft on April 23-25 in Pittsburgh because of the 319 prospects invited to the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis, only 17 were from nonpower conference schools.
—ABC News, 9 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dearth
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dearth
Noun
-
That means there will be no shortage of motivation in these final weeks, and their key players should continue to play every minute despite their run to the semi-finals of the Europa League.—
Abdul Rehman,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
-
That’s just one example of what more than three decades of chronic school funding shortages under Colorado’s decades-old spending cap has led to.—
Kevin Vick,
Denver Post,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Goldman Sachs estimated that Qatar could see its GDP plunge by 14%, citing its lack of alternative export channels to the blockaded Strait of Hormuz.—
Kelsey Warner,
semafor.com,
29 Apr. 2026
-
This Fire sign is, after all, notorious for its lack of a filter… and the 24-year-old singer just so happens to have her sun, Venus and Pluto here.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Perhaps the owner’s unexpected absence was an indication that the rumors about my imminent demise were wrong and that things were not so certain.—
Saïd Sayrafiezadeh,
New Yorker,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Around the world, birds flock to salt lakes, drawn by the flies and brine shrimp that live in them, and by the relative absence of predators.—
Rosa Lyster,
The New York Review of Books,
25 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dearth.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dearth. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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