as in poverty
the state of lacking sufficient money or material possessions
widespread destitution in Third World countries
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Recent Examples of destitution
All that remains of the American Dream is the thin line between wealth and destitution.
—
Andy Andersen, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2025
Families face catastrophic conditions More than half a million people in Gaza are trapped in famine, marked by widespread starvation, destitution and preventable deaths, according to the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis, released today.
—Sarah Ferguson, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2025
More Bashar Taleb/Getty Images What To Know The IPC, a global initiative led by UN agencies, governments, and aid groups, elevated Gaza Governorate, which includes Gaza City, to Phase 5—the highest level of food insecurity—marked by starvation, destitution, and death.
—Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Aug. 2025
Romani actor and filmmaker Alina Şerban, who grew up in near destitution in Bucharest, expresses that sentiment through her art.
—The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 7 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for destitution
Andy Andersen, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2025
Families face catastrophic conditions More than half a million people in Gaza are trapped in famine, marked by widespread starvation, destitution and preventable deaths, according to the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis, released today.
—Sarah Ferguson, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2025
More Bashar Taleb/Getty Images What To Know The IPC, a global initiative led by UN agencies, governments, and aid groups, elevated Gaza Governorate, which includes Gaza City, to Phase 5—the highest level of food insecurity—marked by starvation, destitution, and death.
—Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Aug. 2025
Romani actor and filmmaker Alina Şerban, who grew up in near destitution in Bucharest, expresses that sentiment through her art.
—The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 7 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for destitution
Recent Examples of Synonyms for destitution
Noun
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Why is there the perpetual erosion of our environment, and things like poverty, famine, homelessness and hatred and division?—
Kevin Powell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
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Most of the health center's patients live at or below the federal poverty level — currently $33,000 for a family of four.—
Samantha Liss,
CBS News,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
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In that case, misery turned into something less miserable (at least until the start of the playoffs).—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
1 Apr. 2026
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Two decades of misery In truth, Italy started the game on top, scoring in the 15th minute through Fiorentina forward Moise Kean to set up what should have been a smooth, routine win.—
Ben Church,
CNN Money,
1 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Destitution.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/destitution. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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