1
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of poverty
The model saw Vietnam becoming a manufacturing hub, lifted millions out of poverty and fueled a growing middle class.
—
Aniruddha Ghosal, Los Angeles Times, 23 Jan. 2026
As a result, funding often stops short of the household level, leaving people living in poverty without affordable ways to pay for water and sanitation at home.
—Kara Hurst, Time, 23 Jan. 2026
Those children are often eligible for Medicaid services even if their family’s income is higher than Medicaid federal poverty guidelines.
—Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 23 Jan. 2026
The federal government uses the 2025 poverty guidelines to determine income eligibility for 2026.
—Greg Iacurci, CNBC, 23 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for poverty
Aniruddha Ghosal, Los Angeles Times, 23 Jan. 2026
As a result, funding often stops short of the household level, leaving people living in poverty without affordable ways to pay for water and sanitation at home.
—Kara Hurst, Time, 23 Jan. 2026
Those children are often eligible for Medicaid services even if their family’s income is higher than Medicaid federal poverty guidelines.
—Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 23 Jan. 2026
The federal government uses the 2025 poverty guidelines to determine income eligibility for 2026.
—Greg Iacurci, CNBC, 23 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for poverty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for poverty
Noun
-
Embracing misery is one kind of defiance; demanding to be heard is another.—
Inkoo Kang,
New Yorker,
5 Feb. 2026
-
This year, more than usual, a group of Florida lawmakers are clinging to a Biblical-sounding principle — and doing their best to ensure that the wages of sin are, at the very least, misery.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
1 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
In this city of 20 million people, the Delhi Water Board said last Thursday that 43 neighborhoods – home to about two million people – had been affected by water shortages.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
1 Feb. 2026
-
Critics argue the violence and staffing shortages that have long plagued Los Padrinos have spread and are now destabilizing other facilities.—
Jason Henry,
Daily News,
1 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Technical validation For a Small Island Developing State (SIDS) like Barbados, energy independence is a necessity.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Feb. 2026
-
The left will have to decide which of these concessions are betrayals and which are necessities.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
There has been a lack of clarity about how long Putin had promised to observe a pause on power grid attacks.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Cuban officials have said existing US economic sanctions are largely to blame for the country’s ailing energy sector, although critics also fault a lack of government investment in infrastructure.—
Bianna Golodryga,
CNN Money,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The Strip had been reduced to a landscape of destitution and ruin.—
David Remnick,
New Yorker,
19 Oct. 2025
-
In late August, the World Health Organization cited a new Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis that found more than half a million people in Gaza are trapped in famine, marked by widespread starvation, destitution and preventable deaths.—
Natalie Oganesyan,
Deadline,
28 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
However, the creditor cannot seek a deficiency judgment if the asset sale does not fully satisfy the debt ― this is because the debt has been discharged.—
Jay Adkisson,
Forbes.com,
30 Jan. 2026
-
People who spend a lot of time indoors or have dark skin are at risk for vitamin D deficiency.—
Mark Stibich,
Verywell Health,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
And the Cuban people, suffering under extreme deprivation, will pay the ultimate price.—
Daniel DePetris,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Feb. 2026
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But smart grocery shopping isn’t about deprivation or perfection.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Isabella Valvidia’s three-pointer at the buzzer cut the Highlanders’ deficit to five at the end of the first quarter.—
Steve Galluzzo,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Feb. 2026
-
The defining moment of that NBA Finals series came in Game 3 — with Miami already down 2-0 in the series — when Wade scored 12 points in the final seven minutes to rally the Heat from a 13-point fourth-quarter deficit.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
3 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Poverty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/poverty. Accessed 8 Feb. 2026.
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