Definitions
- Referring to a person who is completely lacking in basic necessities such as food, shelter, and clothing. - Describing a state of extreme poverty and deprivation. - Talking about a person who has no means of support or resources to sustain themselves.
- Describing a person or family who lacks sufficient income or resources to meet their basic needs. - Referring to a state of financial hardship or scarcity. - Talking about a person who is disadvantaged or marginalized due to their economic status.
List of Similarities
- 1Both words describe a lack of financial resources.
- 2Both words can refer to a state of poverty or deprivation.
- 3Both words can be used to describe individuals or communities.
What is the difference?
- 1Extent: Destitute implies a complete lack of basic necessities, while poor suggests a lack of sufficient resources to meet basic needs.
- 2Severity: Destitute suggests a more extreme level of poverty than poor.
- 3Connotation: Destitute has a more negative connotation than poor, which can be used in a neutral or sympathetic tone.
- 4Usage: Destitute is less common and more formal than poor, which is widely used in everyday language.
- 5Scope: Destitute is often used to describe an individual or family, while poor can also refer to a community or country.
Remember this!
Destitute and poor are synonyms that describe a lack of financial resources. However, destitute implies a complete lack of basic necessities and suggests a more severe level of poverty than poor. While poor is widely used in everyday language and can be employed in a neutral or sympathetic tone, destitute is less common and more formal.
