Find Synonyms

scarcely Synonyms

Another word for scarcely

Choosing another word for scarcely depends on context, so the synonyms and similar words below are separated across 3 exact definitions and ranked by match strength.
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• adverb (Context 1)

By a very small margin; almost not at all; barely.

Usage Example

"The exhausted hiker could barely keep his eyes open after the long trek."

Strongest
barely
hardly
only just
Strong
faintly
Weak
narrowly

• adverb (Context 2)

Only a very short time before (typically followed by 'when' or 'before' to indicate that one event was immediately succeeded by another).

Usage Example

"hardly had the concert begun when a sudden power outage plunged the hall into darkness."

Strongest
hardly
barely
Strong
no sooner
just

• adverb (Context 3)

Used to suggest that something is highly unlikely, unreasonable, or certainly not the case.

Usage Example

"You can hardly expect to master a new language without regular practice."

Strongest
hardly
Strong
barely

Opposites of scarcely

The opposite of scarcely shifts depending on context. Common opposites include:

fully
surely
completely
certainly
easily
definitely
long
entirely
See all opposites of scarcely

• Nearby Words

scarab
scaramouche
scarce
scarcely
scarceness
scarcity
scare

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Synonyms for Scarcely. In Wordmom Thesaurus. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/synonyms/scarcely
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