Writers often need to say how much of something there is, and “a lot” and “not much” wear out fast. This topic gives you five ways to say plenty and five ways to say too little, from the everyday (abundant, scant) to the formal (plethora, paucity).
Key idea
Plenty: abundant (more than enough), copious (in large amounts), myriad (countless), plethora (too many), profuse (pouring out). Too little: sparse (thinly scattered), scant (barely enough), meager (skimpy), dearth (a shortage), paucity (a very small amount).
The ten words
Common mistake
plethora first meant too many; today it often means a great many. myriad can be an adjective (myriad stars) or a noun (a myriad of stars).
| plenty | its flavor | too little | its flavor |
|---|---|---|---|
| abundant | more than enough | scant | barely enough |
| copious | large amounts (notes, tears, rain) | meager | skimpy, disappointing |
| profuse | pouring out (thanks, apologies, blooms) | sparse | thinly scattered |
| myriad | countless | dearth | a shortage (noun) |
| plethora | too many (noun) | paucity | very few (noun) |
Plethora once meant only too many; today it often just means a great many, though careful writers keep a hint of excess. Myriad can be an adjective (myriad stars) or a noun (a myriad of stars).