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
In 2005, the city identified the central Arlington neighborhood as one that needed attention, citing high poverty and need for concentrated redevelopment and assistance to residents.
—
Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Sep. 2025
Guyana is a country with high poverty rates.
—Anabella González, CNN Money, 1 Sep. 2025
The city’s overall poverty rate is high, at 19.3% in 2023, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
—Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 30 Aug. 2025
One of the things that stuck with him about the aftermath of the storm was how many people living in poverty wanted to help the hurricane victims in New Orleans.
—Maggie Menderski, The Courier-Journal, 29 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for poverty
Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Sep. 2025
Guyana is a country with high poverty rates.
—Anabella González, CNN Money, 1 Sep. 2025
The city’s overall poverty rate is high, at 19.3% in 2023, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
—Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 30 Aug. 2025
One of the things that stuck with him about the aftermath of the storm was how many people living in poverty wanted to help the hurricane victims in New Orleans.
—Maggie Menderski, The Courier-Journal, 29 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for poverty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for poverty
Noun
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Befriended by the aged proprietor of a now defunct Greek coast restaurant, the hen becomes an unwitting witness of human misery – greed, migrant trafficking, revenge upon revenge.—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
6 Sep. 2025
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Task begins by setting up the parallels between Tom and Robbie, two flawed men trying to keep their heads above the water of their own miseries, cutting back and forth between their routines to emphasize their similar ideologies and spontaneities.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
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But 2025 marks the highest number of staffing shortages since 2018.—
Natalie Eilbert,
jsonline.com,
4 Sep. 2025
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This is driven by a shortage of primary care doctors and patients’ desire for more personalized care, Harrell said.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The humble butter dish, once a purely practical necessity, is enjoying a significant revival, now being showcased on countertops and dining tables in vessels that are both stylish and functional.—
Elizabeth Fogarty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
8 Sep. 2025
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Out of necessity, vibrant economic corridors emerged.—
Ed Gaskin,
Boston Herald,
6 Sep. 2025
Noun
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And the noticeable dips also don’t come for the generations of players who would be expecting to play their peak years for England during wartime either — note the lack of games in the 1940s in the earlier graph.—
Michael Cox,
New York Times,
6 Sep. 2025
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The lack of winning has been exactly the problem during the Chuba years at Carolina.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
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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
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More Bashar Taleb/Getty Images What To Know The IPC, a global initiative led by UN agencies, governments, and aid groups, elevated Gaza Governorate, which includes Gaza City, to Phase 5—the highest level of food insecurity—marked by starvation, destitution, and death.—
Amir Daftari,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Most people get a sufficient amount of this key vitamin through their diets alone—biotin can be found in beef liver and eggs, and for those without a biotin deficiency, biotin is unlikely to help.—
Brianna Peters,
Vogue,
6 Sep. 2025
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Folate deficiency in a mother increases the risk of neural tube defects including spina bifida, but the link to autism is unclear.—
Jon Hamilton,
NPR,
6 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Some research shows creatine may help with mood disorders, potentially including postpartum depression, in addition to countering sleep deprivation.—
Matt Fuchs,
Time,
2 Sep. 2025
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Haley was found guilty of two counts of deprivation of rights resulting in bodily injury and two counts of tampering with a witness, victim or informant.—
Phil Helsel,
NBC news,
28 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Both levels are far above EU rules demanding that individual members’ deficits should not exceed 3% of GDP, while their public debt should not surpass 60% of economic output.—
Holly Ellyatt,
CNBC,
10 Sep. 2025
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Meanwhile, with 76 wins, the Mets face a seemingly insurmountable seven-game deficit to the Phillies, and currently cling to the NL's final Wild Card berth by just four games over the Cincinnati Reds.—
Jon Vankin,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Poverty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/poverty. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
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