penury

pen·u·ry

noun \ˈpen-yə-rē\

Definition of PENURY

1

: a cramping and oppressive lack of resources (as money); especially : severe poverty

2

: extreme and often niggardly frugality

Examples of PENURY

1. <lived in a time when single women like herself faced a lifetime of genteel penury>

Origin of PENURY

Middle English, from Latin penuria, paenuria want; perhaps akin to Latin paene almost

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to PENURY

Synonyms: beggary, destituteness, destitution, impecuniosity, impecuniousness, impoverishment, indigence, necessity, need, neediness, pauperism, penuriousness, poverty, poorness, want

Antonyms: affluence, opulence, richness, wealth, wealthiness

Related Words: gutter, misery, woe, wretchedness; exigency; emergency, rainy day; austerity, deprivation, privation; bankruptcy, insolvency; belt-tightening, pinching, straitening

Near Antonyms: luxury, prosperity

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See Synonym Discussion at poverty