Definitions
- Referring to the minimum level of resources or income necessary to survive. - Describing a way of life that is focused on meeting basic needs, such as food, shelter, and clothing. - Talking about the bare necessities required for survival in a given environment or situation.
- Referring to food or drink that provides nourishment and sustains life. - Describing the means of support or livelihood, such as a job or source of income. - Talking about something that provides emotional or spiritual nourishment, such as art or music.
List of Similarities
- 1Both words relate to the idea of providing for basic needs.
- 2Both words can refer to physical or metaphorical sustenance.
- 3Both words are nouns that describe a state or condition.
What is the difference?
- 1Scope: Subsistence refers specifically to the minimum resources needed for survival, while sustenance can encompass a broader range of needs, including emotional and spiritual ones.
- 2Usage: Subsistence is more commonly used in the context of poverty or survival, while sustenance can be used in a wider variety of contexts.
- 3Connotation: Subsistence can have a negative connotation of barely scraping by, while sustenance has a more positive connotation of providing nourishment and support.
- 4Focus: Subsistence emphasizes meeting basic needs, while sustenance emphasizes providing ongoing support and nourishment.
Remember this!
Subsistence and sustenance are synonyms that both relate to providing for basic needs. However, subsistence specifically refers to the minimum resources needed for survival, while sustenance can encompass a broader range of needs, including emotional and spiritual ones. Subsistence can have a negative connotation of barely scraping by, while sustenance has a more positive connotation of providing nourishment and support.
