drought drouth discouragement lack necessity need want trickle drop drip deficiency deficit insufficiency undersupply shortage scarcity dearth inadequacy paucity poverty scantiness scarceness famine shortfall pinch inadequateness failure crunch lacuna loss default arrears debt debit indebtedness defalcation shortcoming underage slippage core base few little unavailability absence meagreness frugality economy leanness exiguity deprivation sparseness shortness sparsity rareness tightness rarity moderation restraint depletion main slightness scantness meagerness privation lapse limitedness whole lot curtailment temperance temperateness dryness aridity requisite essential essentiality mains prerequisite authority axis backbone basics basis bedrock capital carrier centre center central cynosure epicentre epicenter essence eye focus foundation fount fountainhead fundamental