Definition

A situation where there is not enough of something, especially food or information.

Example

The dearth of fresh vegetables in the winter made it hard to eat healthy.

Conversation

Have you noticed the dearth of good movies lately?

Yeah, it's like there’s nothing interesting coming out.

I really miss the variety we used to have.

Same here! It feels like all the creativity has dried up.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Dearth → It originates from Old English 'deore' (meaning precious or costly) and 'þu' (meaning condition or state). The word 'dearth' refers to a condition of scarcity or high cost, particularly of food.

Memory Tip

Think of something that is 'precious' or 'costly' — that's why 'dearth' means a scarcity or lack of something valuable.

Visually Confused Words