SCANT Synonyms: 85 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'scant' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of scant are meager , scanty , skimpy , spare , and sparse . While all these words mean "falling short of what is normal, necessary, or desirable," scant suggests a falling short of what is desired or desirable rather than of what is essential. // in January the daylight hours are scant

Q: When is 'meager' a more appropriate choice than 'scant'?

The meanings of meager and scant largely overlap; however, meager implies the absence of elements, qualities, or numbers necessary to a thing's richness, substance, or potency. // a meager portion of meat

Q: When could 'scanty' be used to replace 'scant'?

The words scanty and scant are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, scanty stresses insufficiency in amount, quantity, or extent. // supplies too scanty to last the winter

Q: When can 'skimpy' be used instead of 'scant'?

The synonyms skimpy and scant are sometimes interchangeable, but skimpy usually suggests niggardliness or penury as the cause of the deficiency. // tacky housing developments on skimpy lots

Q: When might 'spare' be a better fit than 'scant'?

While in some cases nearly identical to scant , spare may suggest a slight falling short of adequacy or merely an absence of superfluity. // a spare , concise style of writing

Q: When is it sensible to use 'sparse' instead of 'scant'?

The words sparse and scant can be used in similar contexts, but sparse implies a thin scattering of units. // a sparse population

scant 1 of 2

adjective

ˈskant

Definition of scant

as in sparse

less plentiful than what is normal, necessary, or desirable jobs for teenagers were scant that summer

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

scant

2 of 2

verb

as in to spare

to use or give out in stingy amounts don't scant the peanut butter on those sandwiches!

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective scant differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of scant are meager, scanty, skimpy, spare, and sparse. While all these words mean "falling short of what is normal, necessary, or desirable," scant suggests a falling short of what is desired or desirable rather than of what is essential.

in January the daylight hours are scant

When is meager a more appropriate choice than scant?

The meanings of meager and scant largely overlap; however, meager implies the absence of elements, qualities, or numbers necessary to a thing's richness, substance, or potency.

a meager portion of meat

When could scanty be used to replace scant?

The words scanty and scant are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, scanty stresses insufficiency in amount, quantity, or extent.

supplies too scanty to last the winter

When can skimpy be used instead of scant?

The synonyms skimpy and scant are sometimes interchangeable, but skimpy usually suggests niggardliness or penury as the cause of the deficiency.

tacky housing developments on skimpy lots

When might spare be a better fit than scant?

While in some cases nearly identical to scant, spare may suggest a slight falling short of adequacy or merely an absence of superfluity.

a spare, concise style of writing

When is it sensible to use sparse instead of scant?

The words sparse and scant can be used in similar contexts, but sparse implies a thin scattering of units.

a sparse population

Example Sentences

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 scant

Adjective

Even from the scant footage available in the trailer, Gerwig has taken a deliberately exuberant, psychedelic approach to the world of Narnia’s creation — and to the beauty of creation, generally. — Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 13 Oct. 2026 Their interactions with humans involve fatal illness and possibly parasitism, but the details are scant and oblique. — Dave Kim, New York Times, 13 Oct. 2026

Verb

There were few roads or trails or even paths to follow and scant potable water, but plenty of pit vipers and tarantulas. — Ellen Ruppel Shell, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Apr. 2022 In most cases, the Electoral College vote is a mere formality that carries no drama and garners scant public attention. — Gilbert Garcia, ExpressNews.com, 18 Dec. 2020 See All Example Sentences for scant

Recent Examples of Synonyms for scant

Adjective

Rain in the Valley will be sparse and light, with most areas seeing less than a tenth of an inch through Friday.

— Sean Macaday, Sacbee.com, 19 Oct. 2026
Polling is sparse, but Hamilton has narrowly led several polls released over the past month.

— Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of sparse

Verb

But more crucial was the American nuclear umbrella, which spared countries such as Germany, Japan and South Korea the need to develop their own bombs.

— Fareed Zakaria, Washington Post, 23 Oct. 2026
Preventing the cancer from returning could spare patients from ever facing the risks and complexities of metastatic disease altogether.

— Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of spare

Adjective

Dire situation in Oleshky Food and medical supplies have been scarce for months in Oleshky, which sits on the Dnipro River that separates Ukrainian forces from the city’s Russian occupiers.

— ben Finley, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
Huang said that the allocation of energy — which is scarce in the region — to companies like Nebius and Mistral is crucial for their growth.

— Sawdah Bhaimiya, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of scarce

Verb

That includes the 30x30 program to conserve 30% of California’s land and coastal waters by 2030, advanced protections for wetlands and new efforts to rein in the use of harmful pesticides and single-use plastic.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
In many cases, states have had to step up, putting more resources into conserving the habitats and species within their borders, and ballot measures can help shape those decisions.

— Neel Dhanesha, Vox, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of conserve

Verb

Defensive end Blake Herold provided the biggest special-teams moment, blocking a 45-yard field-goal attempt by Rhett Armstrong with 18 seconds remaining to preserve the one-point win.

— Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 25 Oct. 2026
On the day of the operation, Thompson called on Acting ICE Director David Venturella to investigate the collision, including by preserving evidence and cooperating with local authorities.

— Eduardo Cuevas, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of preserve

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scans

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scanted

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“Scant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scant. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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