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
When looking at his Lagos, the camera often closes in, reflecting the kind of claustrophobia poverty tends to engender.
—
Lovia Gyarkye, HollywoodReporter, 16 May 2026
Because if India can industrialize by moving more directly into electricity, powered increasingly by solar, batteries and modern electric technologies, then emerging economies may no longer have to choose between poverty and pollution, or between development now and cleanup later.
—Ingmar Rentzhog, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
Stella Li linked the award to BYD founder Wang Chuanfu, who rose from rural poverty to build a global green-tech giant.
—Ben Croll, Variety, 15 May 2026
The strategy has tempered discomfort among many Democrats with dependence on oil income, in a state with entrenched swaths of extreme poverty and the nation’s highest enrollment rate in Medicaid.
—Morgan Lee, Fortune, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for poverty
Lovia Gyarkye, HollywoodReporter, 16 May 2026
Because if India can industrialize by moving more directly into electricity, powered increasingly by solar, batteries and modern electric technologies, then emerging economies may no longer have to choose between poverty and pollution, or between development now and cleanup later.
—Ingmar Rentzhog, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
Stella Li linked the award to BYD founder Wang Chuanfu, who rose from rural poverty to build a global green-tech giant.
—Ben Croll, Variety, 15 May 2026
The strategy has tempered discomfort among many Democrats with dependence on oil income, in a state with entrenched swaths of extreme poverty and the nation’s highest enrollment rate in Medicaid.
—Morgan Lee, Fortune, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for poverty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for poverty
Noun
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The parallels between Ines’ dilemma and that of a nation being asked to lick its wounds in silence — in the name of moving on from past miseries — are present but elusive.—
Jessica Kiang,
Variety,
14 May 2026
-
There are fun bad teams, or teams that at least make a unique bonding experience out of their specific type of misery.—
Hanif Abdurraqib,
New Yorker,
12 May 2026
Noun
-
American officials also said Beijing would address rare earth shortages, although this was not mentioned in the corresponding statement from China.—
Leonie Kidd,
CNBC,
18 May 2026
-
There is no shortage of choices, from fast-growing bushes for a privacy hedge, evergreen shrubs that provide year-round color in your yard, or flowering shrubs with gorgeous blooms in the spring or summer.—
Patricia Shannon,
Southern Living,
17 May 2026
Noun
-
But the signal in the noise is one of a persistent evolution in energy systems driven by necessity.—
Justin Worland,
Time,
22 May 2026
-
If rising property taxes undermine that promise, especially for longtime residents, then reform becomes less political and more an economic necessity.—
Brandon Tucker,
The Orlando Sentinel,
22 May 2026
Noun
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In England, the Women’s Super League’s commitment is attracting more and more talent to England, and at some point, Spain’s lack of investment in women’s football, not the club, will end up posing a problem for Barca — as seen in Arsenal’s triumph in the final over the Spanish side last year.—
Tamerra Griffin,
New York Times,
21 May 2026
-
The temporary restraining order has been extended due to the lack of service.—
KiMi Robinson,
USA Today,
21 May 2026
Noun
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When the family patriarch dies, Nicholas, his mother, and sister are thrown into financial destitution.—
Diana Arterian,
Literary Hub,
19 Feb. 2026
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Even longtime supporters from the Alawite religious minority—the sect to which the Assads belong—began to complain about their destitution.—
Robert F. Worth,
The Atlantic,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
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For most people eating a typical diet, sodium deficiency is very rare.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
16 May 2026
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This season, however, due to a number of factors including changing personnel, injuries, underperformance from key players and tactical deficiencies, Liverpool have become a soft touch and easy to play against.—
Colin Millar,
New York Times,
16 May 2026
Noun
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The entrepreneur who passes on social events for three years to build a company is not suffering through deprivation.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2026
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During deep sleep, the brain’s glymphatic system clears metabolic waste including proteins linked to Alzheimer’s disease, and research shows even one night of sleep deprivation can increase amyloid deposits in the brain.—
Allison Palmer,
Sacbee.com,
19 May 2026
Noun
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The 12 runs were a season high for the Marlins and the 12-run deficit was the worst loss of the season for the Braves (32-16).—
Chad Bishop,
AJC.com,
19 May 2026
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After wildfires hit Georgia in April 2026 fueled by a rain deficit, high winds and low humidity, — among other causes, per NASA — neighboring states got slammed with poor air quality alerts.—
Ryan Brennan
May 19,
Kansas City Star,
19 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Poverty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/poverty. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
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