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poverty

[pov-er-tee] / ˈpɒv ər ti /


Usage

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

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 institute works with governments and private entities to fight poverty and improve health and education.

From Salon • Jun. 9, 2026

Grandparent-headed households living below the poverty line total 17%, compared to 11% of older adults living without young relatives, according to the U.S.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 8, 2026

Contact tracing is lagging as the disease spreads in areas affected by armed conflict, displacement and poverty.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 2, 2026

This year, the state budgeted $190 million for premium subsidies for people with incomes of up to 165% of the federal poverty level.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 2, 2026

By the end of the summer, he declared his intention to make the eradication of poverty a key legislative objective in 1964.

From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander




Vocabulary lists containing poverty


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