penury Definition
- 1extreme poverty; destitution
- 2a state of being extremely poor; extreme want
Using penury: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "penury" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The family was reduced to penury after the father lost his job.
Example
Many elderly people live in penury despite having worked hard all their lives.
Example
The charity aims to help those in penury by providing food and shelter.
penury Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for penury
Antonyms for penury
- affluence
- prosperity
- wealth
Phrases with penury
Example
The economic crisis has reduced many families to penury.
Example
Despite working hard all her life, she was forced to live in penury in her old age.
Example
With hard work and determination, he was able to escape from penury and build a successful business.
Origins of penury
from Latin 'penuria', meaning 'want, need, scarcity'
Summary: penury in Brief
'Penury' [ˈpɛnjʊri] refers to a state of extreme poverty or destitution. It is often used to describe situations where people lack basic necessities like food and shelter. Examples include 'The family was reduced to penury after the father lost his job.' and 'The charity aims to help those in penury by providing food and shelter.' Phrases like 'reduce to penury' and 'live in penury' are common.