DESTITUTION Synonyms: 37 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'destitution' distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of destitution are indigence , penury , poverty , and want . While all these words mean "the state of one with insufficient resources," 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

Q: When might 'indigence' be a better fit than 'destitution'?

While the synonyms indigence and destitution are close in meaning, indigence implies seriously straitened circumstances. // the indigence of her years as a graduate student

Q: When could 'penury' be used to replace 'destitution'?

The meanings of penury and destitution largely overlap; however, penury suggests a cramping or oppressive lack of money. // a catastrophic illness that condemned them to years of penury

Q: When can 'poverty' be used instead of 'destitution'?

The synonyms poverty and destitution are sometimes interchangeable, but poverty may cover a range from extreme want of necessities to an absence of material comforts. // the extreme poverty of the slum dwellers

destitution

noun

ˌde-stə-ˈtü-shən

Definition of destitution next

as in poverty

the state of lacking sufficient money or material possessions widespread destitution in Third World countries

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How is the word destitution distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of destitution are indigence, penury, poverty, and want. While all these words mean "the state of one with insufficient resources," 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

When might indigence be a better fit than destitution?

While the synonyms indigence and destitution are close in meaning, indigence implies seriously straitened circumstances.

the indigence of her years as a graduate student

When could penury be used to replace destitution?

The meanings of penury and destitution largely overlap; however, penury suggests a cramping or oppressive lack of money.

a catastrophic illness that condemned them to years of penury

When can poverty be used instead of destitution?

The synonyms poverty and destitution are sometimes interchangeable, but poverty may cover a range from extreme want of necessities to an absence of material comforts.

the extreme poverty of the slum dwellers

Examples Sentences

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Recent Examples of destitution The old camps, with all their destitution, were back. —

Jack Herrera, The New Yorker, 8 Aug. 2024 The result was destitution; the family’s fortunes fell further when Bly’s mother, Mary, remarried a violent alcoholic. —

Imogen Lepere, JSTOR Daily, 17 June 2024 There once was a country whose citizens were in total destitution. —

Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 14 June 2024 The last time the Giants scored more than three runs was April 23, nine games ago, outdoing even the offensive destitution to finish last season. —

Evan Webeck, The Mercury News, 4 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for destitution