POVERTY Synonyms: 74 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

poverty

noun

ˈpä-vər-tē

Definition of poverty

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

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

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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 During the 1980s, Los Angeles saw another influx of Latin American immigration, including Mexicans and Central Americans fleeing poverty and war. — Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026 The Daily Dividend A new report from the Census Bureau showed Americans' income rose and poverty fell last year. — Alex Harring, CNBC, 16 Sep. 2026 This program is available to customers living at 200% of the federal poverty level or lower. — Chris Hoffman, CBS News, 16 Sep. 2026 The poverty rate increase comes as politicians face a crucial deadline to save Social Security from sweeping benefits cuts. — Medora Lee, USA Today, 15 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for poverty

Recent Examples of Synonyms for poverty

Noun

Feverish with feeling, the women scream, wail and sob, each one experiencing her misery multiply in real time as the remaining two look on in disdain.

— Natalia Winkelman, Variety, 16 Sep. 2026
Giannoulias hasn’t taken a dime from AIPAC — the American Israel Public Affairs Committee — in this campaign, but that didn’t stop the mayor from attempting to tie Giannoulias to the misery in the Middle East.

— The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of misery

Noun

In addition, costs associated with the generation of electricity typically rise in the winter, when Connecticut and other New England states face shortages of natural gas used to fuel power plants.

— John Moritz, Hartford Courant, 18 Sep. 2026
The memo said assistant principals who are teaching classes exempted from the law — due to a shortage of space or licensed teachers — will also receive the extra pay.

— Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of shortage

Noun

Diners have been eating out less frequently, trying to save money while paying more for gas, groceries and other necessities.

— Amelia Lucas, CNBC, 16 Sep. 2026
Between the former’s inconsistency and the latter’s struggles to stay healthy, Levi might be the Oilers’ definitive starter out of nothing more than pure necessity.

— Janson Duench, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of necessity

Noun

The ongoing conflict that has driven people from their homes in Iran as well as an internet shutdown and a lack of full cooperation from the two governments partially impeded the team's efforts to get information.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 18 Sep. 2026
A lot of the critiques up to this point have been about a lack of fluidity and flow to dancers — people look stiff, this isn’t surprising — but all of that is gone here.

— Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of lack

Noun

Becoming a YouTuber had seemed like a way for Chism to stop sliding toward destitution.

— Jeremy Gordon, The Atlantic, 14 Sep. 2026
The story exemplifies Bandyopadhyay’s method of locating the partition’s violence beyond the riots, in the economic destitution that followed and what that destitution exacted from women.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 July 2026

Definition of destitution

Noun

Shapiro says those with dealing with health issues such gallstones or bile duct obstruction, kidney stones, iron-deficiency anemia, and liver disease should consult their doctors.

— Nadine El Chaer, Vogue, 19 Sep. 2026
Miami could address that deficiency by elevating Mazi Smith, a former first-round pick, or Jordan Miller up from the practice squad.

— Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of deficiency

Noun

Kilduff, Batista-Brito said, showed that after sleep deprivation, these are the most active cells in the cortex.

— Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 18 Sep. 2026
Those circumstances, however, do not eliminate the requirement of constitutionally adequate procedures in connection with an actual deprivation of an existing property interest.

— Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of deprivation

Noun

The trust deficit nobody predicted The most surprising finding in Martin’s research cuts against his own hypothesis going in.

— Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 15 Sep. 2026
Corbin Carroll hit a winning, two-run homer with one out in the ninth inning and the Arizona Diamondbacks rallied from a late three-run deficit to beat the Miami Marlins 8-7 on Monday night and keep pace in the National League playoff race.

— ABC News, ABC News, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of deficit

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“Poverty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/poverty. Accessed 22 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of poverty

noun

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