Penury
noun
Extreme poverty or scarcity.
His family fell into penury after his business failed.
Often appears as...
- live in penury
- fallen into penury
Usage tips
Formal
noun
A lack or shortage of a necessary item or resource.
The country is suffering from a penury of skilled workers.
Often appears as...
- penury of resources
- penury of food
Usage tips
Formal
noun
Extreme poverty or scarcity.
His family fell into penury after his business failed.
Often appears as...
- live in penury
- fallen into penury
Usage tips
Formal
noun
A lack or shortage of a necessary item or resource.
The country is suffering from a penury of skilled workers.
Often appears as...
- penury of resources
- penury of food
Usage tips
Formal
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Economic Hardship
Use 'penury' to describe situations of severe financial difficulty, often long-lasting.
He wrote his masterpiece while living in penury.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Temporary
'Penury' usually implies a chronic condition, not just a momentary lack of funds.
The novelist spent most of his life struggling against penury.
Pro Tip 3/3Human Context
Often used to describe the state of people or populations, not companies or entities.
The new policy could leave thousands in penury.
Pro Tip 1/3Economic Hardship
Use 'penury' to describe situations of severe financial difficulty, often long-lasting.
He wrote his masterpiece while living in penury.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Temporary
'Penury' usually implies a chronic condition, not just a momentary lack of funds.
The novelist spent most of his life struggling against penury.
Pro Tip 3/3Human Context
Often used to describe the state of people or populations, not companies or entities.
The new policy could leave thousands in penury.
Pro Tip 1/3Economic Hardship
Use 'penury' to describe situations of severe financial difficulty, often long-lasting.
He wrote his masterpiece while living in penury.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Temporary
'Penury' usually implies a chronic condition, not just a momentary lack of funds.
The novelist spent most of his life struggling against penury.
Pro Tip 3/3Human Context
Often used to describe the state of people or populations, not companies or entities.
The new policy could leave thousands in penury.
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Quote examples
Raquel Cassidy
English Actress
I loved doing 'Teachers.' I don't know if it's set me on a road, but it certainly got me out of financial penury for two years. But as much as I love it - and it's a huge sacrifice - as much as I love it, I'm in acting because I'm searching to do lots of different things.
Quote examples
Orison Swett Marden
American Writer
If we hold the poverty thought, the penury thought, the thought of lack, we cannot demonstrate abundance. We must hold the plenty thought if we would reach plenty.
Quote examples
Raquel Cassidy
English Actress
I loved doing 'Teachers.' I don't know if it's set me on a road, but it certainly got me out of financial penury for two years. But as much as I love it - and it's a huge sacrifice - as much as I love it, I'm in acting because I'm searching to do lots of different things.
Quote examples
Orison Swett Marden
American Writer
If we hold the poverty thought, the penury thought, the thought of lack, we cannot demonstrate abundance. We must hold the plenty thought if we would reach plenty.
Example 1 of 2
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