poverty

noun

ˈpä-vər-tē How to pronounce poverty (audio)
Definition of povertynext
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

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 In recent years, Lampedusa has become Ground Zero of Europe’s migration debate as the continent struggles to police its borders while honoring its legal obligations to welcome refugees fleeing conflict, climate change and poverty. — ABC News, 4 July 2026 Increasingly, American donors give to multiple organizations, with organizations focused on health, poverty, and the environment showing particularly strong growth. — Michael Posner, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026 The plan had used Affordable Care Act tax credits to offer extremely low-cost health insurance to more than a million New Yorkers, but those who earn 200% to 250% of the federal poverty level will now lose their coverage. — Alana Semuels, Time, 1 July 2026 Those changes to Florida’s ADAP in March would’ve dropped eligibility from making an annual household income at 400% of the poverty level — or about $63,800 for a one-person household — to 130% of the poverty level. — Tamar Hallerman, AJC.com, 1 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for poverty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for poverty
  1. misery
  2. shortage
  3. necessity
  4. lack
  5. destitution
  6. deficiency
  7. deprivation
  8. deficit
Noun
  • The Charlotte region will start feeling like a frying pan come Wednesday, and forecasters expect the sticky misery to linger into next week.
    — Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 30 June 2026
  • But the misery of the heat would add to the story told over natural wine at a bar back home.
    — Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 27 June 2026
Definition of misery
Noun
  • The divergence is over whether the worker shortage is improving slowly or still getting worse, and what the Supreme Court should do about it.
    — Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
  • Lights had been switched off to conserve electricity amid fuel shortages that have gripped Cuba since the beginning of the year.
    — Romina Ruiz-Goiriena, USA Today, 6 July 2026
Definition of shortage
Noun
  • The structural design curtails the necessity for active safety mechanisms, electronic trip switches, or manual operator control interventions during an operational deviation.
    — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 3 July 2026
  • These are films born out of creative necessity and a truly independent spirit.
    — Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 3 July 2026
Definition of necessity
Noun
  • Keli Gonzalez, a painter the museum commissioned, became frustrated by the lack of female representation.
    — Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 3 July 2026
  • The lack of a World Cup title is the one gap on his historic résumé.
    — Ashley Mowreader, NBC news, 3 July 2026
Definition of lack
Noun
  • In the trailer, the young women are in despair over their sudden destitution.
    — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 25 June 2026
  • While the affluent are living longer, healthier lives, and retiring with a nest egg and their dignity, low-income workers are facing destitution.
    — Ann Larson, Time, 11 June 2026
Definition of destitution
Noun
  • The Lakers spent the first days of free agency addressing their shooting deficiencies.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2026
  • Interveinal chlorosis and yellowing in new leaves can indicate an iron deficiency.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 3 July 2026
Definition of deficiency
Noun
  • Sleep deprivation strips away that capacity, often resulting in erratic outbursts or defensive behaviors that dismantle trust instantly.
    — Julie Kratz, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026
  • High doses of creatine helped people with sleep deprivation perform better.
    — Claire Bugos, Verywell Health, 3 July 2026
Definition of deprivation
Noun
  • With Houston facing a three-run deficit after three innings, Cam Smith and Taylor Trammell singled in the fourth.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 1 July 2026
  • California typically operates with a spending deficit because Democrats spend more money than the state brings in.
    — Taryn Luna, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2026
Definition of deficit

Browse Nearby Words

poverties
poverty
poverty-stricken
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Cite this Entry

“Poverty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/poverty. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on poverty

Nglish: Translation of poverty for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about poverty

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