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 Born into poverty in Mexico, Tormenta was the 17th of 18 children. Justin Barrasso, Boston Herald, 16 Sep. 2025 Still, California had the second-highest poverty rate from 2018 through 2020. Grant Stringer, Mercury News, 16 Sep. 2025 The American Rescue Plan Act temporarily increased the amount of the premium tax credit and expanded eligibility to households with an annual income of more than 400% of the federal poverty limit. Greg Iacurci, CNBC, 10 Sep. 2025 Just look at poverty, violence and health and housing inequities that have long afflicted Fairhill and West Kensington, two adjacent and heavily Puerto Rican neighborhoods in North Philadelphia. Héctor M. Varela Rios, The Conversation, 8 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for poverty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for poverty
Noun
  • Andrés Giménez was put on earth to cause misery to major league hitters looking to sneak ground balls through the infield.
    Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
  • California’s housing crisis produces untold human misery and environmental degradation.
    Stan Oklobdzija, Mercury News, 16 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • But in the Midwest and the Northeast, where the housing shortage remains most acute, prices have kept high.
    Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
  • Developers face rising costs, labor shortages, and supply constraints.
    Maurice Obeid, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • However, from a political standpoint, necessity may not have been the primary concern.
    Doug Melville, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
  • Those already inside the gate stayed close to camp out of necessity, while those still outside were stuck in their vehicles — some for up to 20 hours — in the infamous one-lane traffic jam into Black Rock City (BRC).
    Denver Nicks, Rolling Stone, 14 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The lack of clarity is compounded by the fact that many of Turning Point’s largest vendors are limited liability companies registered in states that do not mandate public ownership disclosure.
    Lily Mae Lazarus, Fortune, 20 Sep. 2025
  • The company claims that the problem of the lack of waste heat in electric drive systems is elegantly solved by integrating a high-efficiency heat pump.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 20 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • 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
Noun
  • Poor sleep quality, stress, head injuries, nutrient deficiencies, aging, alcohol use or medication side effects are all common culprits, says Mander.
    Daryl Austin, USA Today, 19 Sep. 2025
  • Magnesium is an essential mineral responsible for many biological processes, and its deficiency has been linked to several inflammatory disorders.
    Mira Miller, Verywell Health, 18 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Two of the bribery charges and one misdemeanor count of deprivation of rights under the color of law were dismissed at the prosecution’s request over concerns about the victims’ health and welfare.
    Alex Brizee, Idaho Statesman, 17 Sep. 2025
  • Still, a few common themes emerge, including floating and sensory deprivation, and the healing that can arise from these types of experiences.
    Carley Rojas Ávila, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Buffeted by rising costs, declining enrollment and state aid that has not kept pace with inflation, the district started the year with a $51 million budget deficit and is spending down reserves and cutting into programs to close the gap.
    Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 16 Sep. 2025
  • While winning the Super Bowl is incredibly difficult, even making the playoffs can be a daunting task when starting from a deficit.
    Mark LaSota, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Poverty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/poverty. Accessed 22 Sep. 2025.

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