Thesaurus.com
Dictionary.com
Definitions

indigence

[in-di-juhns] / ˈɪn dɪ dʒəns /
NOUN
poorness
Synonyms
Antonyms


Usage

What are other ways to say indigence?

Indigence denotes a severely impoverished condition marked by hardship and the lack of any of life’s comforts: reduced to a life of indigence. Destitution, a somewhat literary word, implies a state of having absolutely none of the necessities of life: widespread destitution in countries at war. Poverty denotes serious lack of the means for proper existence: living in a state of extreme poverty.


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The challenges of Maloney’s background — familial trauma, poor medical care, occasional indigence — form part of the back story, but they are ultimately beside the point of this book.

From New York Times • Feb. 25, 2022

For those who admit to indigence, accommodations are made: maybe they wash dishes, for example.

From Washington Post • Oct. 8, 2021

Oetken said his ruling on Parnas’ indigence was in response to a letter from his lawyer stating he could no longer pay the costs of his defense.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 4, 2021

Applicants can easily prove their indigence by filing an affidavit or simply noting that they were assigned a public defender.

From Slate • May 26, 2020

Bobby, perhaps because of the indigence of his childhood, hated the idea of people making money off his name.

From "Endgame" by Frank Brady




Vocabulary lists containing indigence