Example : We hardly knew them.
Had scarcely rung the bell when the door flew open.
Would have scarce arrived before she would have found some excuse to leave.

Synonyms : barely, hardly, just, scarcely

Example : He hardly ever goes fishing.
He was scarce sixteen years old.
They scarcely ever used the emergency generator.
I can hardly hear what she is saying.
She barely seemed to notice him.
We were so far back in the theater, we could barely read the subtitles.

Synonyms : barely, hardly, scarcely

Example : Fresh vegetables were scarce during the drought.