Sparse
mediumNeutral toneSPARS
adjective
Definition
Thinly dispersed or scattered; not dense
Memory hook
SPARSE: Like hair that's SPARSELY distributed -- thin, scattered, not much there.
Word roots
Learning roots unlocks whole word families. Study common GRE root words.
Examples
“Vegetation was sparse in the desert landscape.”
“The audience was sparse at the early morning showing.”
Test yourself
Fill in the blank with the right word:
“Vegetation was ______ in the desert landscape.”
Show answer
sparse
Categories
GRE Tip
Sparse is a medium-difficulty GRE word. On the GRE, you might see it paired with synonyms like "scarce" or "meager" in Sentence Equivalence questions. Look for contrast clues (however, despite, although) that signal the opposite meaning. Words like "dense".
Related GRE Words
paltry
Small or meager; of little value or importance
scant
Barely sufficient or adequate
fragmented
Broken or separated into distinct parts; lacking unity
sporadic
Occurring at irregular intervals or only in a few places; scattered or isolated
insufficient
Not enough; inadequate
rarefy
to make less dense or thinner; to refine or make more esoteric
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