scant

Scant is an adjective that means "a tiny amount," like your scant attendance at practice this week that results in being benched from the big game.

Scant is also a verb, that means "to supply sparingly" — don't scant with the brownies, or I will keep asking for more. Scant also means "to deal with inadequately or carelessly." When you scant the reports on homelessness, they are so superficial on data that they don't reflect the real problem. Scant comes from the Old Norse word skamt, meaning "short, brief."

Definitions of scant
  1. adjective
    less than the correct or legal or full amount often deliberately so
    “a scant cup of sugar”
    synonyms: light, short
    deficient, insufficient
    of a quantity not able to fulfill a need or requirement
  2. verb
    limit in quality or quantity
    synonyms: skimp
    see moresee less
    type of:
    restrict
    place under restrictions; limit access to
  3. verb
    supply sparingly and with restricted quantities
    synonyms: skimp, stint
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    type of:
    furnish, provide, render, supply
    give something useful or necessary to
  4. verb
    work hastily or carelessly; deal with inadequately and superficially
    synonyms: skimp
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    type of:
    work
    exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
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