POVERTY Synonyms: 74 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'poverty' distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of poverty are destitution , indigence , penury , and want . While all these words mean "the state of one with insufficient resources," poverty may cover a range from extreme want of necessities to an absence of material comforts. // the extreme poverty of the slum dwellers

Q: Where would 'indigence' be a reasonable alternative to 'poverty'?

Although the words indigence and poverty have much in common, indigence implies seriously straitened circumstances. // the indigence of her years as a graduate student

Q: When would 'penury' be a good substitute for 'poverty'?

The words penury and poverty are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, penury suggests a cramping or oppressive lack of money. // a catastrophic illness that condemned them to years of penury

Q: How do 'want' and 'destitution' relate to one another, in the sense of 'poverty'?

Both want and destitution imply extreme poverty that threatens life itself through starvation or exposure. // lived in a perpetual state of want // the widespread destitution in countries beset by famine

poverty

noun

ˈpä-vər-tē

Definition of poverty next

as in misery

the state of lacking sufficient money or material possessions he dreamed of finding a good job and working his way out of poverty and debt

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in shortage

a falling short of an essential or desirable amount or number a poverty of information about the new policies

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word poverty distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of poverty are destitution, indigence, penury, and want. While all these words mean "the state of one with insufficient resources," poverty may cover a range from extreme want of necessities to an absence of material comforts.

the extreme poverty of the slum dwellers

Where would indigence be a reasonable alternative to poverty?

Although the words indigence and poverty have much in common, indigence implies seriously straitened circumstances.

the indigence of her years as a graduate student

When would penury be a good substitute for poverty?

The words penury and poverty are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, penury suggests a cramping or oppressive lack of money.

a catastrophic illness that condemned them to years of penury

How do want and destitution relate to one another, in the sense of poverty?

Both want and destitution imply extreme poverty that threatens life itself through starvation or exposure.

lived in a perpetual state of want

the widespread destitution in countries beset by famine

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of poverty From his perspective, the party had a moral obligation to address poverty since more people are live in poverty now than in the 1960s. —

Russell Contreras, Axios, 24 Nov. 2024 For communities facing poverty, houses are less likely to be rebuilt to withstand hurricane-force winds. —

Patricia McIlreavy, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024 Volunteers fill shoeboxes with essentials, school supplies, and toys for children worldwide, especially those facing war, poverty, or disaster. —

Jasmine Baehr, Fox News, 20 Nov. 2024 His world, made of streets and poverty, is about to change. —

Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 19 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for poverty

Recent Examples of Synonyms for poverty

Noun

While there are notable and beautiful bright spots to All or Nothing (most of which go to infallible Leigh regular Ruth Sheen), the film really doubles down on the ambient misery of these people’s lives.

Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 9 Dec. 2024
Adults explain little to her—the possibility of death lies beyond her field of vision—which gives the vivid misery of her treatment a fairy-tale quality.

Molly Fischer, The New Yorker, 4 Dec. 2024