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 Delivering Good, the nonprofit that provides people impacted by poverty and tragedy with new merchandise donated by retailers and manufacturers, celebrated 40 years Tuesday at a gala event at Gotham Hall. Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 5 Nov. 2025 With 50 percent-plus of Detroit kids in poverty, this timing matters. Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025 This year’s gala celebrates 14 years of Baby2Baby’s work to provide over half a billion critical items — including diapers, formula and clothing — to children living in poverty across the country. Kirsten Chuba, HollywoodReporter, 5 Nov. 2025 Heflin, an expert in older adult poverty, said low-income families are already budgeted to the limit. Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 4 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for poverty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for poverty
Noun
  • Mamdani, 34, is a charismatic socialist who has limited experience in the private sector and seems utterly unconcerned about his guiding philosophy’s long track record of creating misery.
    Editorial, Boston Herald, 8 Nov. 2025
  • Beyond the outright annihilation of people and the considerable trauma that brought onto people, leftist regimes inflicted considerable misery in myriad other ways.
    Sal Rodriguez, Oc Register, 7 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • When staffing shortages occur, the FAA will reduce the flow of air traffic to maintain safety.
    Joe Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
  • Flights are being delayed and cancelled across the country because of airport staffing shortages.
    Chantelle Lee, Time, 5 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • Like the vast, uncaring jungle in Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness, the Tyranids are an irresistible force that seeks to surround and destroy humanity through the weight of pure biological necessity.
    Alan Bradley, Space.com, 8 Nov. 2025
  • But as watches shifted from necessities to collectibles, history became a focal point—providing bragging rights, narrative, and value marker.
    Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 8 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • Despite his lack of coaching experience at the MLB level, Vitello was named manager of the San Francisco Giants last month.
    Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 7 Nov. 2025
  • Part of the reason why there are so few of these conversations about podcasting is a general lack of criticism for narrative audio.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 7 Nov. 2025
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
  • Mike Vrabel has breathed life into the New England Patriots, guiding them to a 7-2 start while riding a six-game winning streak despite fielding a roster that still has its fair share of deficiencies.
    Mike Jones, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2025
  • Opponents raised concerns about the cost of new construction and long-term debt, arguing that renovations could have addressed the library’s deficiencies.
    Daniel Hunt, Sacbee.com, 8 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • Carskadon says all of this contributes to pervasive sleep deprivation.
    NPR, NPR, 2 Nov. 2025
  • Facility one-upsmanship, all in the name of attracting better recruits, led to practice facilities with mini-golf courses (Clemson), marble showers in the locker room (Oregon) and sensory deprivation tanks (Georgia).
    Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 31 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • With the transit system running a deficit, the County Board did not specifically restore any of those routes during its deliberations over County Executive David Crowley's budget.
    Claudia Levens, jsonline.com, 11 Nov. 2025
  • As the Association shares in the cost of running the clubhouse restaurant with the golf club, one member shared some concerns about the financial plan and whether it was projected to continue operating at a deficit.
    Karen Billing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Poverty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/poverty. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.

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