scarce
Hard to find
Scarce describes something in short supply relative to demand—not absent, but insufficient: Water is scarce in the desert, Jobs were scarce during the recession.
The word implies difficulty obtaining what's needed.
To make yourself scarce is to leave quickly or stay away, especially to avoid trouble.
Deficient supply of necessities
- dearthAcute shortage of something
- lackDeficiency or absence
- deficitAmount still owed
- shortfallFailure to reach quota
paucity · inadequate · insufficient · deficient · wanting · meager · scanty · sparse
Seldom occurring or found
- infrequentHappening only occasionally
- unusualNot often encountered
- elusiveHard to find
- sporadicOccurring irregularly, infrequently
few · scattered · isolated · exceptional · extraordinary · singular · unique · precious
shortage
Deficient supply of necessities
shortfall · paucity · inadequate · insufficient · deficient · wanting · meager · scanty · sparse · limited
uncommon
Seldom occurring or found
- infrequentHappening only occasionally
- unusualNot often encountered
- elusiveHard to find
sporadic · few · scattered · isolated · exceptional · extraordinary · singular · unique · precious · coveted
precious
Highly esteemed, greatly valued
diamonds · gemstones · heirloom · artifact · luxury · platinum · collectible · irreplaceable · priceless · costly
- availabilityavailable, unavailable, sold out, in stock, out of stock
- infrequencyrarely, seldom, infrequent, infrequently, occasionally
- luxuryluxury, wealth, luxurious, opulent, opulence
- quantitiessome, many, few, amount, several
- rarityrare, uncommon, infrequent, scant, few
- scarcityshortage, scant, scanty, lack, dearth
scarcecommon
Widespread and unremarkable
frequent · prevalent · ubiquitous · widespread · abundant
- make oneself scarceDepart to avoid notice
- making oneself scarceDeliberately becoming unavailable
- made oneself scarceDeparted to avoid notice
- scarce as hen's teethPractically nonexistent
- make yourself scarce
- water scarcityInsufficient freshwater for demand
scarcely, scarcity, scarceness, scarcer, scarcest, scarcities