Penury: meaning, definitions and examples

Used to describe extreme and severe poverty, often implying a complete lack of resources.

• After losing his job, he found himself living in penury, unable to afford basic necessities

A general term for the state of being extremely poor, encompassing a wide range of economic hardship.

• The government is working on initiatives to reduce poverty and improve living standards

Suggests a state of absolute poverty where one lacks the means to sustain oneself, often with an emphasis on being deprived of basic needs like food and shelter.

• The economic crisis drove many families into destitution, forcing them to rely on charitable organizations

Refers to a level of poverty that is characterized by a lack of money, but often implies that the person is living in humble or minimal conditions rather than complete destitution.

• Despite their indigence, they managed to maintain a positive outlook on life

Conveys the experience of severe lack of basic comforts and necessities, usually as a result of poverty but can also occur due to other circumstances.

• The war left many in a state of privation, struggling to find food and clean water