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Synonyms

in short supply

Idioms  

  1. Less than is needed, lacking. For example, Skilled operators were in short supply, or The hotels are all full, and beds are in short supply. [First half of 1900s]

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The four astronauts of Artemis II say their mission gave the world a sense of hope and unity at a time when both feel in short supply.

From BBC • Apr. 16, 2026

Certain bacteria produce methane as they break down organic material, but this only happens when phosphate, an essential nutrient, is in short supply.

From Science Daily • Apr. 16, 2026

Prudence is in short supply, and it is this very scarce resource that requires us “to block the roads to hell before building the stairways to heaven.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

Potash, the potassium-rich component of fertilizers, has also been in short supply in recent years, in part because of economic sanctions on Belarus and Russia, which are major potash producers.

From Salon • Apr. 8, 2026

He represents constancy and success, which otherwise are in short supply.

From "Drama High" by Michael Sokolove

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.