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

Unfortunately, Johnson and Evans have a dearth of screen chemistry.

From Los Angeles Times

The biggest barrier to the adoption of this strain of fungus is the dearth of places to buy the spores needed to grow it in the U.S.

From Salon

Aasif Mandvi, one of the leads in a new production of “Waiting for Godot” opening Thursday at L.A.’s Geffen Playhouse, is sitting on a couch, recalling the dearth of roles for South Asian actors in 2003, when he played a Taliban minister in Tony Kushner’s “Homebody/Kabul.”

From Los Angeles Times

“We have been concerned for years about the dearth of programming and group and individual therapy for people struggling with mental illness in the jails,” she said.

From Los Angeles Times

The new class of free agents includes lots of starting pitching when starting pitching is less important than ever and a dearth of leverage relievers when leverage relievers are coveted more than ever.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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