SPARSE: Synonyms and Related Words. What is Another Word for SPARSE?

Need another word that means the same as “sparse”? Find 9 synonyms and 30 related words for “sparse” in this overview.

The synonyms of “Sparse” are: thin, scanty, scant, scattered, thinly distributed, scarce, infrequent, sporadic, few and far between

Sparse as an Adjective

Definitions of "Sparse" as an adjective

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “sparse” as an adjective can have the following definitions:

• Thinly dispersed or scattered.
• Scanty; in short supply.
• Not dense.

Synonyms of "Sparse" as an adjective (9 Words)

few and far between	A quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by `a’; a small but indefinite number.
infrequent	Not occurring often; rare. Her visits were so infrequent.
scant	Barely amounting to a specified number or quantity. She weighed a scant two pounds.
scanty	Lacking in magnitude or quantity. A scanty harvest.
scarce	Occurring in small numbers or quantities; rare. The freshwater shrimp becomes scarce in soft water.
scattered	(of electromagnetic radiation or particles) deflected or diffused. Scattered showers.
sporadic	Occurring at irregular intervals or only in a few places; scattered or isolated. A city subjected to sporadic bombing raids.
thin	Relatively thin in consistency or low in density not viscous. A thin line of paint.
thinly distributed	Lacking excess flesh-Shakespeare.

Usage Examples of "Sparse" as an adjective

• Trees were sparse.
• Information on earnings is sparse.
• Areas of sparse population.

Associations of "Sparse" (30 Words)

adequacy	The quality of being able to meet a need satisfactorily. The adequacy of testing procedures.
collectable	(of an item) worth collecting; of interest to a collector. The auction attracted professional dealers trading in quality small collectables.
curio	Something unusual — perhaps worthy of collecting. They had such fun over the wonderful box of curios that Jack had sent from India.
curiosity	An unusual or interesting object or fact. Filled with curiosity she peered through the window.
deficient	Inadequate in amount or degree. A deficient education.
hardly	Only with great difficulty. We hardly knew them.
infrequent	Not occurring often; rare. Infrequent outbursts of temper.
infrequently	Not often; rarely. He cooks but only infrequently.
insufficient	Of a quantity not able to fulfill a need or requirement. Insufficient funds.
limited	Denoting a limited company used after a company name. A limited number of places are available.
meager	Deficient in amount or quality or extent. Meager resources.
meagerly	To a meager degree or in a meager manner. These voices are meagerly represented at the conference.
measly	Contemptibly small in amount. Three measly votes.
occasional	Occurring on a temporary or irregular basis. Occasional headaches.
oddity	Something unusual — perhaps worthy of collecting. She was regarded as a bit of an oddity.
often	Frequently; many times. He often goes for long walks by himself.
pittance	An inadequate payment. He paid his workers a pittance.
rare	Having low density. Rare patches of green in the desert.
rarely	Not often; seldom. You can write rarely now after all your schooling.
rareness	Noteworthy scarcity.
rarity	Something unusual — perhaps worthy of collecting. To take the morning off was a rarity.
scant	Work hastily or carelessly; deal with inadequately and superficially. The press regularly scants a host of issues relating to safety and health.
scanty	Small or insufficient in quantity or amount. The women looked cold in their scanty bodices.
scarce	Scarcely. As raw materials became scarce synthetics were developed.
seldom	Not often. Islay is seldom visited by tourists.
sloppy	(of semi-fluid matter) containing too much liquid; watery. We gave away a goal through sloppy defending.
sometimes	On certain occasions or in certain cases but not always. Sometimes I want to do things on my own.
sporadic	Recurring in scattered and irregular or unpredictable instances. Sporadic fighting broke out.
subsist	Maintain or support oneself, especially at a minimal level. The effect of genetic maldevelopment may subsist in chromosomal mutation.
unique	A unique person or thing. A style of architecture that is unique to Portugal.