rationed
Doled out sparingly
Rationed describes something distributed in limited, controlled portions.
During wartime or shortages, governments ration essential goods—fuel, food, medicine—so everyone gets a share: Sugar was rationed during the war.
The word extends to any deliberate limiting: She rationed her remaining vacation days carefully.
What's rationed is scarce or precious enough to require measured allocation.
Fixed assigned amount
- allotmentDesignated share or portion
- apportionmentDivision into shares
- distributionAllocation across recipients
- sharePortion given out
portion · allowance · dispense · dole · parcel · mete · prorate · divvy
Restricted in extent
- controlledKept within limits
- regulatedMade to follow rules
- constrainedForced into narrow limits
- restrictedLimited in scope
capped · budgeted · metered · monitored · measured · stinted · prescribed · stipulated
Deficient supply of necessities
- scarcityInsufficiency of something needed
- dearthAcute shortage of something
- deficitAmount still owed
- insufficiencyShortfall in amount needed
paucity · depletion · want · lack · privation · austerity · meagerness · sparsity
Redeemable discount certificates
- stampsPostal payment adhesives
- blackoutComplete power loss
- requisitionedFormally demanded for use
- conscriptedInvoluntarily enlisted for duty
blockade · occupation · siege · embargo · contraband · black-market · hoarding · queuing
Accumulated reserve supply
- reserveSupply kept back
- hoardHidden accumulated valuables
- provisionPreparatory supply or clause
- sustainKeep something going continuously
subsist · endure · emergency · preparedness · self-sufficiency · resourcefulness · forage · conserve
quota
Fixed assigned amount
- allotmentDesignated share or portion
- apportionmentDivision into shares
- distributionAllocation across recipients
share · portion · allowance · dispense · dole · parcel · mete · prorate · divvy · consignment
limited
Restricted in extent
- controlledKept within limits
- regulatedMade to follow rules
- constrainedForced into narrow limits
restricted · capped · budgeted · metered · monitored · measured · stinted · prescribed · stipulated · finite
shortage
Deficient supply of necessities
insufficiency · paucity · depletion · want · lack · privation · austerity · meagerness · sparsity · drought
coupons
Redeemable discount certificates
- stampsPostal payment adhesives
- blackoutComplete power loss
- requisitionedFormally demanded for use
conscripted · blockade · occupation · siege · embargo · contraband · black-market · hoarding · queuing · ersatz
stockpile
Accumulated reserve supply
sustain · subsist · endure · emergency · preparedness · self-sufficiency · resourcefulness · forage · conserve · stretch
- availabilityavailable, unavailable, sold out, in stock, out of stock
- scarcityscarcity, scarce, shortage, scant, scanty
- controlledcontrolled, managed, regulated, restrained, contained
- suppliedequipped, stocked, provisioned, furnished, delivered
- decentralizationdecentralized, distribute, spread, disperse, scatter
- broken apartapart, asunder, broken, broken up, fragmented
rationedunrationed
Not limited by quota
unrestricted · unlimited · uncontrolled · open · accessible
rationedunlimited
Without bounds or restrictions
generous · unrestricted · lavish · all-you-can-eat · ad libitum
rationedfree-market
Unregulated private exchange
unregulated · decontrolled · laissez-faire · privatized · liberalized
- ration booksWartime supply allocation documents
- ration stampsControlled-purchase authorization slips
- military rationPortable soldier food
- food rationingControlled distribution of provisions
- emergency rationsFood for crises
- ration cardsPermits for limited goods