1
2
a
: barely or scarcely sufficient
especially
: not quite coming up to a stated measure
a scant teaspoon
b
: lacking in amplitude or quantity
scant growth
3
: having a small or insufficient supply
he's fat, and scant of breath—
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare
scantly
adverb
scantness
noun
scanted; scanting; scants
Synonyms
Examples of scant in a Sentence
Adjective
Food was in scant supply.
She paid scant attention to the facts.
Police found scant evidence of fraud.
Verb
don't scant the peanut butter on those sandwiches!
Recent Examples on the Web
Maya Goldman, Axios, 20 Nov. 2024
The Hollywood pair, though celebrated regulars on the red carpet, are notoriously quiet about their personal lives, so some details and photos of their properties are scant.
—Joyce Chen, Architectural Digest, 19 Nov. 2024
Chadd Scott, Forbes, 30 May 2021
Walter Russell Mead, Foreign Affairs, 1 July 2010
Trump captured attention his first time around, in part, by talking about issues that other candidates scanted: the threat of China, chaos at the southern border.
—Nr Editors, National Review, 22 Dec. 2023
See all Example Sentences for scant 
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Adjective
Oz panned the Inflation Reduction Act, though details on his position about its Medicare prescription drug provisions are scant.
—Maya Goldman, Axios, 20 Nov. 2024
The Hollywood pair, though celebrated regulars on the red carpet, are notoriously quiet about their personal lives, so some details and photos of their properties are scant.
—Joyce Chen, Architectural Digest, 19 Nov. 2024
Adverb
How come scant few of America’s leading art museums own or display his work?
—Chadd Scott, Forbes, 30 May 2021
Verb
By scanting this complexity, Remnick leaves readers with a less than totally satisfying depiction of Obama's encounter with the world of black Chicago.
—Walter Russell Mead, Foreign Affairs, 1 July 2010
Trump captured attention his first time around, in part, by talking about issues that other candidates scanted: the threat of China, chaos at the southern border.
—Nr Editors, National Review, 22 Dec. 2023
See all Example Sentences for scant
Dictionary Entries Near scant
Cite this Entry
“Scant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scant. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
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