indigence
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
But once the month is over, broke Diana faces indigence back in England unless she’s rescued from destitution by true love.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 26, 2019
It is a fine thing, reader, to be lifted in a moment from indigence to wealth—a very fine thing; but not a matter one can comprehend, or consequently enjoy, all at once.
From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë
From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.
