extremely scarce

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "extremely scarce" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to talk about situations where resources are limited. For example: "With the ongoing drought, water has become extremely scarce in the region."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Encyclopedias

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Due to various constraints, pertinent experimental data are extremely scarce.

Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering

Curiously, though, physical evidence of the state-sponsored pogrom has always been extremely scarce.

The New York Times

He blamed Venezuela's private companies for shortages of food — milk, for instance, had become extremely scarce.

The New Yorker

He blamed Venezuela's private companies for shortages of food milk, for instance, had become extremely scarce.

The New Yorker

Contrary to a widely held opinion, Indo-European loanwords of non-Latin origin are extremely scarce.

Encyclopedia Britannica

You need world-class management talent, and that, too, is extremely scarce.

The Economist

Hollywood can produce any number of lovely young stars, but lovely young royals are extremely scarce.

The Economist

Information on the extinct Baltic languages is extremely scarce (mostly place-names).

Encyclopedia Britannica

Current literature addressing this issue is extremely scarce due to the complexity in handling MSW's heterogeneity.

Energy Conversion and Management

These days, senators who hang out with their peers from the opposite party are both extremely scarce and slightly suspect.

The New York Times

The offending behaviour courses inmates were supposed to take were extremely scarce and in some prisons nonexistent.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing scarcity, provide specific context to clarify what is limited and why. For example, instead of just stating "resources are extremely scarce", specify "clean water resources are extremely scarce due to prolonged drought".

Common error

Avoid using "extremely scarce" as a generic intensifier. Ensure it accurately reflects a severe shortage, not merely a limited supply. The phrase carries significant weight and should be reserved for situations where scarcity has notable consequences.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "extremely scarce" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun to indicate a very limited availability or near absence of something. As Ludwig AI indicates, its function is related to resource constraints.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Science

36%

Academia

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

7%

Formal & Business

6%

Wiki

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "extremely scarce" is a grammatically correct and frequently used adjective phrase that emphasizes a severe shortage or near absence of something. As highlighted by Ludwig AI, this phrase is typically deployed in scenarios where resource constraints are a central concern. The analysis of usage patterns shows that while prevalent across various domains such as news, science and academia, its employment is less common in encyclopedic or formal business contexts. When using "extremely scarce", ensure it accurately conveys the severity of the scarcity, and consider providing specific context to enhance clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

incredibly limited

Emphasizes the finite nature of the resource, highlighting a restriction on availability.

rarely available

Indicates infrequency of access or occurrence of the resource.

severely depleted

Focuses on the reduction of a resource to a critically low level.

critically short

Highlights the severity of the scarcity, implying potential crisis.

woefully inadequate

Stresses the insufficiency of the resource to meet the demand or need.

virtually nonexistent

Highlights the extreme rarity, suggesting the resource is almost absent.

highly deficient

Points to a significant lack or shortage of the resource.

markedly reduced

Emphasizes the noticeable and significant decrease in the resource's availability.

thin on the ground

An idiomatic expression signifying that something is hard to find or not present in large numbers.

few and far between

An idiomatic expression emphasizing that instances of something are infrequent and separated by significant intervals.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "extremely scarce" in a sentence?

Use "extremely scarce" to highlight a severe shortage or near absence of something. For example, "During the famine, food was "extremely scarce", leading to widespread suffering."

What are some alternatives to "extremely scarce"?

You can use alternatives like "incredibly limited", "severely depleted", or "virtually nonexistent" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it more appropriate to say "very scarce" or "extremely scarce"?

"Extremely scarce" emphasizes a higher degree of rarity or shortage compared to "very scarce". Choose ""extremely scarce"" when the scarcity is critical or has significant consequences.

Which sentence is correct: "Resources are scarce" or "Resources are extremely scarce"?

Both sentences are grammatically correct, but they convey different degrees of scarcity. "Resources are scarce" indicates a limited supply, while "Resources are "extremely scarce"" suggests a severe and critical shortage.