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

Example 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 Affordable housing is increasingly hard to find in rural communities, where pay is often lower and poverty higher than average. —

Cody Mullen, The Conversation, 3 Feb. 2025 The agency's programs focus on improving global health, alleviating poverty, and providing emergency relief in response to natural disasters or conflict as well as enhancing education and strengthening democratic institutions abroad. —

David Faris, Newsweek, 3 Feb. 2025 The agency provides humanitarian assistance abroad, particularly to countries recovering from disaster and trying to escape poverty. —

Kierra Frazier, CBS News, 3 Feb. 2025 The pair founded the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation — a nonprofit dedicated to combating global poverty and disease — in 2000. —

Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 26 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for poverty

Recent Examples of Synonyms for poverty

Noun

Isn’t a life without mountains of money better than a life monopolized by misery?

— Ben Travers, IndieWire, 7 Feb. 2025
The act led to retaliatory tariffs by other countries and is widely seen as exacerbating the economic misery of the Depression.

— Dan Mangan, CNBC, 6 Feb. 2025