FAMINE Synonyms: 44 Similar and Opposite Words

famine

noun

ˈfa-mən

Definition of famine

as in shortage

a falling short of an essential or desirable amount or number there's a famine of good general practitioners in many rural areas

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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.

Recent Examples of famine Although the food situation has improved since last year’s famine, Israel continues to restrict humanitarian aid, allowing only a fraction of the daily 600 truckloads required in the cease-fire deal to enter the territory. — Khaled Elgindy, Foreign Affairs, 8 Oct. 2026 The assault triggered Israel’s war in the Gaza Strip, the killing of more than 74,000 Palestinians, famine and widespread devastation. — Charlene Gubash, NBC news, 7 Oct. 2026 In opulent London salons at the turn of the 19th century, economists including David Ricardo and Thomas Malthus debated trade, famine and the fate of the poor. — Julia R. Cartwright, Washington Post, 6 Oct. 2026 The 2020-2022 Tigray war killed more than 100,000 people and contributed to famine in the region. — Adrian Elimian, semafor.com, 28 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for famine

Recent Examples of Synonyms for famine

Noun

The bigger issue, Chesky argues, is a shortage of new construction.

— Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 23 Oct. 2026
Recently, anger at this collateral damage, heightened by the fish shortage, has evolved into a political movement.

— Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of shortage

Noun

The demonstrations first erupted last month in a high school in Creteil, southeast of Paris, over a lack of staff.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 23 Oct. 2026
Management is guiding to flat EBITDA margins for the year, as lower-margin acquisitions and a fading FX tailwind offset productivity gains, so don't be worried about a lack of profitability growth in coming quarters.

— Josh Brown,Sean Russo, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of lack

Noun

But the drought that set the stage for the fires has dried up Baltzor's hay meadows, too.

— Anna King, NPR, 25 Oct. 2026
Following light snowfall and a lackluster ski season, the Boise area experienced a series of heat waves and persistent drought conditions, sparking a number of devastating fires.

— Hali Smith October 25, Idaho Statesman, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of drought

Browse Nearby Words

family way

famine

famines

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Style

“Famine.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/famine. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of famine

noun

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