Dearth: Definition & Meaning for the SAT
⚡️ DEARTH most nearly means: (A) scarcity; (B) abundance; (C) death; (D) value. 👉 Answer + examples, pronunciation, and explanation inside.
📣 TL;DR: Dearth means a scarcity or lack of something. Mnemonic from our print materials: There's a DEARTH of MIRTH on planet EARTH (meaning a lack of happiness on Earth). (By the way, the uppercased words rhyme!)
ℹ️ Part of Speech of Dearth
dearth is a NOUN.
🗣️ Pronunciation of Dearth
dearth is pronounced /dɜrθ/ or DURTH.
📚️ Definition of Dearth
A scarcity or lack of something; an insufficient quantity or absence of something needed or desired. Example: a dearth of fresh water in the desert.
📰 Examples of Dearth
Here are some examples of the word dearth:
The dearth of parking spaces downtown has forced many commuters to use public transportation.
Despite the city's wealth, there's a surprising dearth of quality bookstores.
✅ Quiz answer
Answer to the question above:
A, scarcity. Explanations: B doesn't work; abundance is the opposite of dearth. C might seem tempting because "dearth" sounds like "death," but they have completely different meanings. D doesn't fit; value relates to worth, not lack.