penury suggests a cramping or oppressive lack of money.
a catastrophic illness that condemned them to years of penury
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
Examples of poverty in a Sentence
He was born in poverty.
There is a poverty of information about the disease.
Recent Examples on the WebDespite gains, Black and Hispanic youth grow up more frequently in households with in poverty, with fewer housing options, weaker schools and poorer healthcare.—Scott White, Forbes, 14 Sep. 2024 The Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation was set up in 2006 and is committed to disrupting the cycle of hunger, poverty and homelessness.—Craig Shoup, USA TODAY, 12 Sep. 2024 The $18-a-month tier is available for families at 135% of the federal poverty level, or a family of three making up to $34,857 a year.—Nushrat Rahman, Detroit Free Press, 11 Sep. 2024 Bon Jovi, a 2018 inductee to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, is also involved in the work of his Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation, which focuses on assisting people struggling with poverty, hunger and homelessness.—Elias Lopez, CBS News, 11 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for poverty
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'poverty.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Middle English poverte, from Anglo-French poverté, from Latin paupertat-, paupertas, from pauper poor — more at poor
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