dearth

[ durth ]

noun

1. an inadequate supply; scarcity; lack:

   There is a dearth of good engineers.

   Synonyms: insufficiency, paucity, want, shortage

   Antonyms: surplus, sufficiency, plenty, abundance

2. scarcity and dearness of food; famine.

dearth

/ dɜːθ /

noun

1. an inadequate amount, esp of food; scarcity

Word History and Origins

Origin of dearth¹

First recorded in 1200–50, dearth is from the Middle English word derthe. See dear ¹, -th ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of dearth¹

C13: derthe , from dēr dear

Example Sentences

The Pentagon security reviewers must have been suffering a dearth of caffeine or sleep.

From The Daily Beast

The FDA is hoping to remedy the dearth of knowledge with a plea aimed at influential drugmakers.

From The Daily Beast

And the dearth of top Democratic visitors could have a real impact on down-ballot Democrats.

From The Daily Beast

Like the people of Westeros, winter is coming and with it a dearth of Game of Thrones.

From The Daily Beast

Despite the dearth of decent sex education, most of us could figure out what had happened.

From The Daily Beast

She had been confined to the house a month, and there had been, as a natural consequence, a great dearth of news.

From Project Gutenberg

The mills, with their dyes and dirt, are also responsible for the dearth of trout.

From Project Gutenberg

Great wealth cannot still hunger, but rather occasions more dearth, for where rich people are there things are always dear.

From Project Gutenberg

I have the honor to enclose the last gazettes, by which Congress will see the dearth of news in Europe at present.

From Project Gutenberg

A dearth of all sedentary resources became, when his youth passed away, his own constant reproach.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• absence
• deficiency
• inadequacy
• lack
• paucity
• shortage