Canister could be smaller (8)

I believe the answer is:

scantier

'smaller' is the definition.
(scanty means limited or small)

'canister could be' is the wordplay.
'could be' is an anagram indicator.
'canister' is an anagram of 'SCANTIER'.

(Other definitions for scantier that I've seen before include "More frugal" , "more revealing" , "more parsimonious" , "less lavish" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.

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