sparse

Language: en

🇺🇸 /ˈspɑrs/

📖 Definitions

  1. adjective
    Present only in small or scattered amounts; thinly distributed; not dense.; Meager or scanty in amount or quantity; lacking in fullness or richness.

🔗 Details

Word forms

Comparative: sparser, more sparse Superlative: sparsest, most sparse

Collocations

sparse populationsparse vegetationsparse datasparse hairsparse distribution

Derivatives

sparselysparsenesssparsity

Synonyms

scantymeagerthinscatteredinfrequentspotty

Antonyms

denseabundantthickplentifullush

Commonly confused

scarce
EN: 'Scarce' means insufficient in supply or hard to obtain; 'sparse' means thinly distributed or few in number across an area.
sparse vs. spare
EN: 'Spare' means extra or surplus; 'sparse' means thinly scattered or not dense.

Spelling tips

EN: Do not confuse 'sparse' with 'scarce'; note the 'p' in sparse and the 'c' in scarce.

💬 Examples

  1. The sparse vegetation on the hillside struggled to survive the drought.

  2. The report provided only sparse details about the incident.