Synonyms Examples Word Origin
See more synonyms for scant on Thesaurus.com adjective, scant·er, scant·est. barely sufficient in amount or quantity; not abundant; almost inadequate: to do scant justice. limited; meager; not large: a scant amount. barely amounting to as much as indicated: a scant two hours; a scant cupful. having an inadequate or limited supply (usually followed by of ): scant of breath. Show More
to make scant; diminish. to stint the supply of; withhold. to treat slightly or inadequately. Show More
Scot. and North England Dialect scarcely; barely; hardly. Show More
Origin of scant 1325–75; Middle English (adj.) < Old Norse skamt, neuter of skammr short
Related forms scant·ly , adverb scant·ness , noun Synonyms for scant See more synonyms for 2 .
scanty ,
small ,
restricted .
4 .
short ,
lacking ,
wanting ,
deficient .
5 .
lessen ,
reduce ,
decrease ,
curtail .
6 .
limit ,
restrict ,
skimp ,
scrimp .
7 .
slight ,
neglect .
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words for scant paltry ,
slight ,
scanty ,
sparse ,
insufficient ,
mere ,
skimpy ,
short ,
spare ,
skimp ,
bare ,
thin ,
scrimp ,
wanting ,
barren ,
deficient ,
exiguous ,
flimsy ,
inappreciable ,
inconsiderable Examples from the Web for scant Contemporary Examples of scant Retailers were hammered by the scheme because checks and balances were scant in 2012, when the eBay grifting peaked.
But even if the promised money does finally arrive, there is scant guarantee it will be used appropriately.
Indeed there is a pre-Hispanic ceremonial site located a scant 400 meters from the outer edge of the Otomí Lake & Villas property.
She slammed the media, saying the coverage has been scant and inaccurate.
Had it been a scant $23.6 million, she was still more than ready to pop some victory champagne.
Historical Examples of scant The sky was now clear, the air frosty, and my rags were but a scant protection to me.
Of Rouquet's activities as an artist in England there are scant particulars.
He appears to have grown fat and scant of breath when he was about thirty-six or seven.
After the first day of the siege there was scant leisure for funeral rites.
The meat was little better than the bread in quality, and quite as scant in quantity.
British Dictionary definitions for scant scarcely sufficient; limited he paid her scant attention (prenominal) slightly short of the amount indicated; bare a scant ten inches (postpositive foll by of ) having a short supply (of) Show More
to limit in size or quantity to provide with a limited or inadequate supply of to treat in a slighting or inadequate manner Show More
Derived Forms scantly , adverb scantness , noun Word Origin for scant C14: from Old Norse skamt, from skammr /short; related to Old High German scam
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for scant adj. mid-14c., from a Scandinavian source (cf. Old Norse skamt , neuter of skammr "short, brief"), from Proto-Germanic *skamma- (cf. Old English scamm "short," Old High German skemmen "to shorten"), perhaps ultimately "hornless," from PIE *kem- (see hind (n.)). Also in Middle English as a noun, "scant supply, scarcity," from Old Norse. As a verb and adverb from mid-15c.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
