penury

[pen-yuh-ree]

noun

1. extreme poverty; destitution.

   Synonyms: want, need, indigence
   Antonyms: wealth

2. scarcity; dearth; inadequacy; insufficiency.

penury

/ ˈpɛnjʊrɪ /

noun

1. extreme poverty

2. extreme scarcity

Word History and Origins

Origin of penury¹

1400–50; late Middle English < Latin pēnūria; akin to Greek peîna hunger, penía poverty

Word History and Origins

Origin of penury¹

C15: from Latin pēnūria dearth, of obscure origin

Example Sentences

In California, 5.5 million residents, including 2 million children, will be forced deeper into penury.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The AAU’s dictatorial control forced athletes into penury and enriched its leaders.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

He faced agony abroad, then penury in his adopted home.

Read more on Seattle Times

"Independence, I think, means penury for Wales, not success."

Read more on BBC

If you're willing to force poor elderly people into even worse penury than they already are, you are their kind of gal.

Read more on Salon