Find Synonyms
famine Synonyms
Another word for famine
Choosing another word for famine depends on context, so the synonyms and similar words below are separated across 2 exact definitions and ranked by match strength.
• noun (Context 1)
An extreme and widespread scarcity of food across a large region or population, often caused by drought, crop failure, or economic collapse.
Usage Example
"Prolonged drought and poor harvests led to a devastating starvation across the province."
Strongest
starvation
Strong
dearth
scarcity
shortage
• noun (Context 2)
A severe shortage or acute deficiency of any essential commodity or resource.
Usage Example
"The manufacturing sector struggled during the sudden coal shortage of the nineteenth century."
Strongest
shortage
dearth
scarcity
Strong
paucity
deficiency
drought
Opposites of famine
The opposite of famine shifts depending on context. Common opposites include:
abundance
plenty
surplus
feast
glut
plethora
bounty
excess
• Nearby Words
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Synonyms for Famine. In Wordmom Thesaurus. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/synonyms/famine