The rice crop was scanty this year.
Source: tatoeba (243178)
Scanty
/ˈskænti/
Synonyms for "scanty" (144 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (29)
Strong matches (43)
dwarfishembryonicexiguousfailingfrugalhypoplasticimmatureimpoverishedin arrearin arrearsin defaultin short supplyinadequateinappreciableincapaciousincommodiousincompleteinfantinfrequentinsufficient
Adjective(6 words)
Related words (72)
nearneedingniggardlynot to be hadout of printout of seasonout of stockpaltryparsimoniouspartpartialpatchypiddlingpoorpremiumpunyrarerarefiedrestrictedscant
Show 42 more words
scarcescatteredscrappyscrawnyscrimpscrimpingscrimpyseldom met withseldom seenshortshysketchyskimpskimpingskimpyslenderslightslimsmallsparesparingsparsespartanspottysprinkledstarvationstingystintedstraitstraitenedstuntedsubsistencethintightuncommonunderdevelopedundevelopedunnourishingunnutritiouswantingwateredwatery
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: bare, skimpy, abstemious, angustifoliate, angustirostrate.
- Sentence evidence is available for scanty, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "scanty".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "scanty"
Keep "scanty" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "scanty" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "scanty", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "scanty" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
9 entriesMore specific
6 entriesincomplete reportinglimited coveragemeager amountshort skirtskimpy topsparse data
Collocations
6 entriesscanty coveragescanty datascanty evidencescanty informationscanty resourcesscanty supply
Inflections
2 entriesDerivations
2 entriessimilar
6 entriesSample sentences
17 total sentences available.
It was a dark and stormy night; the rain fell in torrents — except at occasional intervals, when it was checked by a violent gust of wind which swept up the streets (for it is in London that our scene lies), rattling along the housetops, and fiercely agitating the scanty flame of the lamps that struggled against the darkness.
Source: tatoeba (3132955)
They were not a handsome family; they were not well dressed; their shoes were far from being water-proof; their clothes were scanty; and Peter might have known, and very likely did, the inside of a pawnbroker's. But they were happy, grateful, pleased with one another, and contented with the time; and when they faded, and looked happier yet in the bright sprinklings of the Spirit's torch at parting, Scrooge had his eye upon them, and especially on Tiny Tim, until the last.
Source: tatoeba (3712799)
Ferrier carried the bag of gold and notes, Jefferson Hope had the scanty provisions and water, while Lucy had a small bundle containing a few of her more valued possessions.
Source: tatoeba (6359751)
Showing 4 of 17 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "scanty"?
Closest matches include bare, skimpy, abstemious, angustifoliate, angustirostrate.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "scanty"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.