Sparse Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

sparse

adjective

ˈspärs How to pronounce sparse (audio)
sparser; sparsest
Synonyms of sparsenext
: of few and scattered elements
especially : not thickly grown or settled
sparsely adverb
sparseness noun
sparsity
ˈspär-sə-tē How to pronounce sparse (audio)
-stē
noun

Synonyms

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Choose the Right Synonym for sparse

meager, scanty, scant, skimpy, spare, sparse mean falling short of what is normal, necessary, or desirable.

meager implies the absence of elements, qualities, or numbers necessary to a thing's richness, substance, or potency.

a meager portion of meat

scanty stresses insufficiency in amount, quantity, or extent.

supplies too scanty to last the winter

scant suggests a falling short of what is desired or desirable rather than of what is essential.

in January the daylight hours are scant

skimpy usually suggests niggardliness or penury as the cause of the deficiency.

tacky housing developments on skimpy lots

spare may suggest a slight falling short of adequacy or merely an absence of superfluity.

a spare, concise style of writing

sparse implies a thin scattering of units.

a sparse population

Examples of sparse in a Sentence

open land is sparse around here
Recent Examples on the Web Officials, including Zeller, communications manager Will Gregory and several members of the construction crew, were sparse on details. —Natalie Wallington, Kansas City Star, 18 Apr. 2024 Appeals are typically over the summer, when school staffing is sparse. —The Enquirer, 16 Apr. 2024 See all Example Sentences for sparse 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sparse.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Latin sparsus spread out, from past participle of spargere to scatter — more at spark

First Known Use

1753, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sparse was in 1753

Dictionary Entries Near sparse

sparry limestone

sparse

Sparta

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Sparse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sparse. Accessed 3 May. 2024.

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Kids Definition

sparse

adjective
ˈspärs How to pronounce sparse (audio)
sparser; sparsest
: of few and scattered elements
especially : not thickly grown or settled
sparsely adverb
sparseness noun
sparsity
ˈspär-sət-ē How to pronounce sparse (audio)
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on sparse

Nglish: Translation of sparse for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of sparse for Arabic Speakers

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