sparser; sparsest
: of few and scattered elements
especially
: not thickly grown or settled
Examples of sparse in a Sentence
open land is sparse around here
Recent Examples on the Web
This damages the trunk and leaves an ugly, elongated canker that invites insects and stresses the tree, leading to stunted growth, sparse foliage, and stem dieback.
—
Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Jan. 2026
The roughly 465-kilometer journey typically requires a 12–14 hour overnight bus ride, a reminder of Luzon’s sparse railway system and reliance on road transport.
—Maria Williams, USA Today, 11 Jan. 2026
Even though the snow in the Rockies is sparse, Colorado ski-makers are still gearing up to sell the latest and greatest.
—Max Scheinblum, Denver Post, 9 Jan. 2026
But specific details are still sparse, and the castle hotel apparently isn’t the only place the characters will be.
—Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 9 Jan. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Sparse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sparse. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
Kids Definition
sparse
adjective
sparser; sparsest
: of few and scattered elements
especially
: not thickly grown or settled
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