sparse

adjective \ˈspärs\

: present only in small amounts : less than necessary or normal; especially : thinly covering an area : not thick or full

spars·erspars·est

Full Definition of SPARSE

: of few and scattered elements; especially : not thickly grown or settled

— sparse·ly adverb

— sparse·ness noun

— spar·si·ty \ˈspär-sə-tē, -stē\ noun

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Origin of SPARSE

Latin sparsus spread out, from past participle of spargere to scatter — more at spark

First Known Use: 1753

Related to SPARSE

Synonyms: exiguous, hand-to-mouth, light, niggardly, poor, scant, scanty, scarce, skimp, skimpy, slender, slim, spare, sparing, meager, stingy

Antonyms: abundant, ample, bountiful, copious, generous, liberal, plenteous, plentiful

Synonym Discussion of SPARSE

meager, scanty, scant, skimpy, spare, sparse mean falling short of what is normal, necessary, or desirable. meager implies the absence of elements, qualities, or numbers necessary to a thing's richness, substance, or potency <a meager portion of meat>. scanty stresses insufficiency in amount, quantity, or extent <supplies too scanty to last the winter>. scant suggests a falling short of what is desired or desirable rather than of what is essential <in January the daylight hours are scant>. skimpy usually suggests niggardliness or penury as the cause of the deficiency <tacky housing developments on skimpy lots>. spare may suggest a slight falling short of adequacy or merely an absence of superfluity <a spare, concise style of writing>. sparse implies a thin scattering of units <a sparse population>.