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
Jo Rodgers, Vogue, 4 Nov. 2024
Specifics on Scout production are scant, but at least the Ramcharger is using components and technology that Stellantis already puts in other cars.
—Aarian Marshall, WIRED, 3 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
The restaurants are come-as-you-are and the nightlife is scant, but if your idea of a vacation is an ocean view and a stretch of the legs, here are the places to know about on the Île de Ré.
Where to Stay
Hotel de Toiras
Le Salon d’Olivia at Hotel de Toiras.
—Jo Rodgers, Vogue, 4 Nov. 2024
Specifics on Scout production are scant, but at least the Ramcharger is using components and technology that Stellantis already puts in other cars.
—Aarian Marshall, WIRED, 3 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 23 Nov. 2024.
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