insufficient to satisfy the need or demand; not abundant

Meat and butter were scarce during the war.

seldom met with; rare

a scarce book.

scarcely. ?

make oneself scarce

Informal .

to depart, esp. suddenly.

to stay away; avoid.

noun

defect , deficiency , deficit , inadequacy , insufficiency , lack , paucity , poverty , scantiness , scantness , scarcity , shortcoming , shortfall , underage