dearth

noun

ˈdərth

Synonyms of dearth next

: scarcity that makes dear

specifically : famine

: an inadequate supply : lack

a dearth of evidence

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Where does the word dearth come from?

Dearth has, in one form or another, been used to refer to scarcity since at least the 13th century, when it often referred specifically to the plague of famine (as in “a time of dearth”), whether brought on by an insidious crop disease or by invaders. The word traces back to the Old English adjective dēore, meaning “dear” (dēore is also the ancestor of dear, which also once meant “scarce,” though that sense is now obsolete). That notion of dearness or importance endures in dearth, which implies the absence or scarcity of not just any old thing, but of something one wants or needs. A dearth of mauls, for example, would be the bane of a woodcutter’s existence.

Examples of dearth in a Sentence

It may also be a respite for booksellers, who have been grumbling for several years about sluggish sales and a dearth of dependable blockbuster fiction. —

Julie Bosman, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2006

… Earnhardt has recently hinted that a company-wide dearth of talent is the core reason his Chevy simply isn't as fast in 2005 as it's been in the past. —

Lars Anderson, Sports Illustrated, 11 Apr. 2006

AirNet, which hauls bank checks and other time-critical freight, used to require that its pilots have at least 1,200 hours of flight experience. Then, faced with a dearth of experienced applicants, it dropped the requirement to 500 hours. Now, it has no minimum. —

Scott McCartney, Wall Street Journal, 10 Aug. 2000

there was a dearth of usable firewood at the campsite the dearth of salesclerks at the shoe store annoyed us

Recent Examples on the Web

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.

Ken Brown, 59, Julien’s older half-brother, was struck by the similarities in both dearths — both his slain loved one and Hopkins were peacemakers trying to defuse a violent situation. —

John Annese, New York Daily News, 2 Dec. 2024 Perhaps the biggest immediate challenge for companies like Li-Cycle, oddly, is a dearth of batteries to shred. —

Vince Beiser, WIRED, 30 Nov. 2024 While a few 5-7 teams have been invited to bowls because of a dearth of enough schools with at least .500 records or better, Locksley acknowledged Tuesday that a fourth consecutive bowl game is not in the cards after Saturday’s 29-13 loss to Iowa. —

Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 29 Nov. 2024 If Udoka were to pull the plug completely, there would be no dearth of options. —

Rahat Huq, Forbes, 28 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for dearth