scarce
[ skairs ]
deficient in quantity or number compared with the demand
USE 1
In the remote village, clean drinking water was scarce, forcing residents to travel long distances to find a reliable source.
USE 2
As the economic crisis deepened, jobs became scarce, leading to a significant increase in unemployment rate.
USE 3
After the hurricane, supplies of food and medicine were scarce, highlighting the urgent need for aid and support from the international community.