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Synonyms

poverty-stricken

American  
[pov-er-tee-strik-uhn] / ˈpɒv ər tiˌstrɪk ən /

adjective

  1. suffering from poverty; extremely poor.

    poverty-stricken refugees.


poverty-stricken British  

adjective

  1. suffering from extreme poverty

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of poverty-stricken

First recorded in 1795–1805

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.

He also represented Alex Saab, who American prosecutors said laundered money for Venezuela’s former strongman, Nicolás Maduro, and oversaw the importation of often-rotten food to a poverty-stricken country.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 2, 2026

The recording has spread widely on social media and caused a strong reaction in oil-rich but poverty-stricken Equatorial Guinea, ruled by Obiang for over 40 years.

From Barron's • Apr. 13, 2026

He was born as Archie Leach in Horfield in 1904, and later escaped a poverty-stricken childhood to join a circus aged 14.

From BBC • Nov. 22, 2024

The decision means there will be more preventable deaths in the 17 poverty-stricken counties along Interstate 95 that constitute the Corridor of Shame, Brown said.

From Salon • Oct. 31, 2024

My hero, Cove, a level-seventeen sorcerer with fire for hair, can’t advance through this poverty-stricken kingdom without an offering to the princess.

From "They Both Die at the End" by Adam Silvera

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