another word for poor essay

90+ Synonyms for “Poor” with Examples | Another Word for “Poor”

Exploring the many synonyms for “poor” can be incredibly useful, whether we’re trying to add variation to our writing or aiming to express a concept with more nuance. The word “poor” itself is quite versatile, describing a lack of financial resources, inferior quality, or insufficient amounts. Whether we’re writing a compelling story, a persuasive essay, or simply trying to articulate a specific point, choosing the right synonym can make all the difference.

Poor Synonyms

What Is “Poor”?

Poor  is an adjective often used to describe a lack of financial resources or material possessions. It also extends to quality, indicating something that is not meeting satisfactory standards.

List of Synonyms for Poor

• Impoverished
• Underprivileged
• Impecunious
• Poverty-stricken
• Hand-to-mouth
• Down-and-out
• Economically disadvantaged
• Financially strapped
• Downtrodden
• Hardscrabble
• Imbued with poverty
• Skint (British slang)
• Disadvantaged
• Necessitous
• Unfortunate
• Unprosperous
• In dire straits
• On the breadline
• Pecuniary embarrassed
• Underfunded
• Cash-strapped
• Resourceless
• Cleaned out
• At a disadvantage
• Down on one’s luck
• Empty-handed
• In straitened circumstances
• On one’s uppers
• Stone broke
• Unable to make ends meet
• Unsubstantial
• In a financial bind
• On the edge of poverty
• Down to last penny
• Suffering from hardship
• Under-endowed
• Up against it
• Without means
• Without resource

Types of Synonyms for Poor

Financial status.

• Impoverished: Lacking financial resources and possessions.
• Destitute: Without the basic necessities of life.
• Bankrupt: Unable to pay one’s debts.
• Needy: In need, especially financially.
• Indigent: Seriously lacking in means of subsistence.
• Deficient: Lacking in some element or aspect; inadequate.
• Inadequate: Not sufficient; not up to the required standard.
• Substandard: Below the usual or required standard.

Physical Condition

• Unfortunate: Marked by or deserving of bad luck.
• Underprivileged: Deprived of the economic, social, and cultural benefits that others have.
• Disadvantaged: Lacking compared to others in terms of resources or opportunities.

Common Synonyms for Poor

Poor vs. impoverished.

Impoverished  refers to a state of poverty that is often extended and systemic, unlike the general term  poor  which can simply indicate a lack of wealth.

• They could barely afford the rent, making them one of the poor families in the city.
• After the factory closed, the entire town found itself in an impoverished state.

Poor vs. Needy

Needy  signifies a desperate need for the basics of life, emphasizing a dire situation. Meanwhile,  poor  can be used more broadly to describe insufficient financial means.

• Their poor circumstances didn’t allow for any extra spending.
• We organized a fundraiser to help the needy individuals affected by the crisis .

Poor vs. Indigent

Indigent  is a more formal term that describes extreme poverty, where individuals are unable to provide for themselves, contrasting with the more commonly used  poor .

• Many artists live a poor lifestyle, prioritizing their craft over material wealth.
• The legal system provides attorneys for indigent defendants who can’t afford one.

Poor vs. Broke

Broke  is a casual term often implying a temporary lack of money, as opposed to  poor , which may suggest a continuous state of financial hardship.

• The poor neighborhood lacked essential resources.
• After paying all the bills, they were completely broke until the next paycheck.

Synonyms for Poor in Different Contexts

Financial hardship.

• Impoverished : We visited an impoverished area where many live below the poverty line.
• Needy : During the holidays, we donate clothes to needy families in our community.
• Destitute : After the economic crisis, he went from wealthy to destitute in a short time.

Quality or Standard

• Subpar : Our experience at the hotel was subpar due to the poor service.
• Inferior : The knock-off product was obviously inferior to the brand-name original.
• Deficient : The apartment was deficient in basic amenities like running water.

Health and Wellbeing

• Frail : After the surgery, she was left in a frail condition.
• Feeble : The neglected plant in the corner of the room looked feeble and withered.

Fertility of Land

• Barren : The garden’s soil was too barren to produce a good crop.
• Unfertile : Our attempts to farm the land were unsuccessful due to its unfertile nature.

Absolute and Near Synonyms of Poor

Absolute synonyms for poor.

Near Synonyms for Poor

Synonyms for Poor with Examples | Infographic

Frequently Asked Questions

What are alternative words to describe someone with little money?

When describing someone with little money, we can use terms like ‘impoverished,’ ‘needy,’ ‘indigent,’ or ‘impecunious.’ Each word varies slightly in connotation but effectively communicates financial scarcity.

How do I refer to something of very low quality without using the word ‘poor’?

To describe something of low quality, we might say it’s ‘substandard,’ ‘inferior,’ or ‘shoddy.’ Such words specifically address the quality aspect without using the word ‘poor.’

What are some informal or slang terms used to describe a poor person?

In informal situations, slang terms such as ‘broke,’ ‘penniless,’ or ‘down and out’ can be used. These terms are more colloquial and should be used carefully to avoid offense.

What terms can I use to describe extreme economic hardship elegantly?

To elegantly describe extreme economic hardship, phrases like ‘financially distressed,’ or ‘under economic strain’ are appropriate. They convey the gravity of the situation with a measure of dignity.

What are some opposite words to ‘poor’ in the context of wealth?

Opposite terms to ‘poor’ concerning wealth include ‘wealthy,’ ‘affluent,’ ‘prosperous,’ or ‘well-to-do.’ These words signify a substantial level of financial resources or assets.

What is a respectful way to refer to families facing financial difficulties?

We can refer to families facing financial difficulties as those ‘experiencing economic challenges’ or ‘navigating financial hardship.’ These phrases are respectful and empathetic towards the situation.

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What is a synonym for bad writing?

I am looking for a word to reflect what a novice author would use to describe his own writing (somewhat derogatorily). My first thought was drivel .

• single-word-requests

• 5 Did you mean drivel? –  user10893 Commented Sep 23, 2013 at 2:18
• I think I did. Although that rings closer to "silly" than "bad quality". Any other ideas? –  nachocab Commented Sep 23, 2013 at 2:25
• 5 'Silly' would be 'bad quality'. But you haven't explained whether you want a term for bad handwriting or bad authorship (hence the different answers below). –  Edwin Ashworth Commented Sep 23, 2013 at 6:38
• You should edit your question, and change dribble to drivel. You'll probably get more answers as a result. –  Mari-Lou A Commented Sep 23, 2013 at 17:18
• Thanks for all the comments in this answer. They've helped me form a clearer picture about how this online community works. –  nachocab Commented Sep 24, 2013 at 15:56

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged single-word-requests synonyms or ask your own question .

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Find the synonyms or antonyms of a word

Synonyms for poor

• impoverished
• insufficient
• behind eight ball
• commiserable
• contemptible
• down-and-out
• empty-handed
• fortuneless
• impecunious
• insignificant
• necessitous
• poverty-stricken
• second-rate
• stone broke
• substandard
• truly needy
• underprivileged
• unproductive
• unprosperous
• unsatisfactory

Définition of poor

• c.1200, "lacking money or resources, destitute; needy, indigent; small, scanty," from Old French povre "poor, wretched, dispossessed; inadequate; weak, thin" (Modern French pauvre ), from Latin pauper "poor, not wealthy," from pre-Latin *pau-paros "producing little; getting little," a compound from the roots of paucus "little" (see paucity) and parare "to produce, bring forth" (see pare).
• Replaced Old English earm . Figuratively from early 14c. Meaning "of inferior quality" is from c.1300. Of inhabited places from c.1300; of soil, etc., from late 14c. The poor boy sandwich, made of simple but filling ingredients, was invented and named in New Orleans in 1921. To poor mouth "deny one's advantages" is from 1965 (to make a poor mouth "whine" is Scottish dialect from 1822). Slang poor man's ________ "the cheaper alternative to _______," is from 1854.
• adj lacking sufficient money
• adj deficient, inadequate
• adj weak, unfertile
• adj unfortunate, unhappy
• Eudora was a mere infant when Phidias bought her of a poor goatherd in Phelle.
• Extract from : « Philothea » by Lydia Maria Child
• Men who take from the poor daily interest for a drachma, and spend it in debauchery.
• Ask the poor fisherman at the gates, who has been to him as a brother; and he will answer 'Anaxagoras.'
• "He said he was poor," urged Billy, who had been rather taken with the ease of Arledge's manner.
• Extract from : « The Spenders » by Harry Leon Wilson
• He would not adopt a nameless orphan, found with a poor goatherd of Phelle.
• "It is partly for your sake that I wish it, my poor child," said he.
• "I am afraid I should make a poor hand at it," said Mrs. Rushton, smiling.
• Extract from : « Brave and Bold » by Horatio Alger
• I doubt me whether the poor old hound will brook the journey.
• Extract from : « The Armourer's Prentices » by Charlotte M. Yonge
• The poor dog heard the tumult, and leapt to your aid, sir, and we made after him.
• The poor devil had consumption, too, and probably he'll never see them again.

Antonyms for poor

• extraordinary
• significant
• sophisticated

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noun as in want; extreme need, often financial

Strongest matches

• underdevelopment

Strong matches

• destitution
• impecuniousness
• impoverishment
• insufficiency
• pennilessness
• necessitousness

Example Sentences

China has made remarkable, remarkable strides in the past 20 years, lifting a half a billion people out of poverty.

The crop is so important that government insiders consider its development synonymous with the eradication of poverty in Malaysia.

Such a shift in population is likely to increase poverty and widen the gulf between the rich and the poor.

Its 2008 adoption of GM cotton for smallholder farmers was hailed as an example of how these technologies could alleviate poverty and food insecurity by protecting crops from pests and increasing yields.

Whether a kid faces poverty or neglect, “the way you start out in life tends to continue,” Gunnar says.

Getting men to do their share of care and domestic work is a key overlooked strategy in reducing poverty.

It demands an end to poverty and racial injustice, to which we are totally committed in our time.

The losers have always been children in poverty, children of color, and children with disabilities.

Nor do these studies address the structural and systematic issues that contribute to obesity, such as poverty and stress.

World peace, religious tolerance, and an end to global poverty, hunger, and disease.

And our views of poverty and social betterment, or what is possible and what is not, are still largely conditioned by it.

In the old world, poverty seemed, and poverty was, the natural and inevitable lot of the greater portion of mankind.

He passed the latter part of his life in poverty, and towards the close of it, was confined in a madhouse.

Seen thus poverty became rather a blessing than a curse, or at least a dispensation prescribing the proper lot of man.

Even if poverty were gone, the flail could still beat hard enough upon the grain and chaff of humanity.

Related Words

Words related to poverty are not direct synonyms, but are associated with the word poverty . Browse related words to learn more about word associations.

noun as in insufficiency, scarcity

• exiguousness
• infrequency
• slim pickings
• uncommonness

noun as in indigence

noun as in hardship, adversity

• can of worms
• catastrophe
• hard knocks
• rotten luck
• ticklish spot
• tough break
• unholy mess
• vicissitude

noun as in humiliation, shame

• awkward situation
• awkwardness
• bashfulness
• discomfiture
• discomposure
• disconcertion
• egg on face
• impecuniosity
• indebtedness
• indiscretion
• mortification
• predicament
• self-consciousness

Viewing 5 / 23 related words

When To Use

What are other ways to say  poverty .

Poverty denotes serious lack of the means for proper existence: living in a state of extreme poverty. Destitution , a somewhat more literary word, implies a state of having absolutely none of the necessities of life: widespread destitution in countries at war. Indigence denotes a severely impoverished condition marked by hardship and the lack of any of life’s comforts: reduced to a life of indigence.

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.

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Poor Synonyms and Antonyms

• impecunious
• impoverished
• necessitous
• poverty-stricken
• down-and-out
• underprivileged
• disadvantaged
• in reduced circumstances
• famine-stricken
• underdeveloped
• empty-handed
• ill-provided
• ill-furnished
• suffering privation
• feeling the pinch
• unable to make ends meet
• poor-as-a-church-mouse
• strapped for money
• out at the elbows
• contemptible
• insignificant
• unsatisfactory
• under average
• second-rate
• subordinate
• second-hand
• fourth-rate
• unimportant
• less than good
• unwholesome
• lacking in quality
• second-class
• mass-produced
• effete infecund
• eleemosynary
• unsuccessful
• second best
• rock bottom
• inauspicious
• pretentious
• tumble-down
• insufficient
• out-of-date
• old-fashioned
• poverty -stricken
• resourceless
• undesirable
• unfavorable
• unfortunate
• unpropitious
• unproductive
• misfortunate
• satisfactory
• forgotten man
• the unemployed
• impecuniosity
• the underprivileged
• impoverishment
• poor people
• the impoverished masses
• second-class-citizen
• pauperization
• rich people
• depauperate

Words Related to Poor

Related words are words that are directly connected to each other through their meaning, even if they are not synonyms or antonyms. This connection may be general or specific, or the words may appear frequently together.

• poor health
• substandard
• malnourished
• poor-quality

Poor Sentence Examples

The poor kid is feeling deserted.

Poor people are often sick.

This was too much for poor Nancy.

A poor example of being objective.

Katie said that was because Carmen had been raised poor and had become frugal.

Related Articles

Poor Is Also Mentioned In

• winter tire
• Dow Jones Utilities Index
• Nationally Recognized Statistical Ratings Organization
• inopportune

Words near Poor in the Thesaurus

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Synonyms and antonyms of poor in English

• BAD WEATHER, CONDITIONS, SITUATIONS, ETC.

Synonyms and examples

Antonym and example, see words related to poor.

• OF BAD QUALITY
• NOT HAVING MUCH OR ENOUGH MONEY

poor | American Thesaurus

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Poverty Essay for Students and Children

500+ words essay on poverty essay.

“Poverty is the worst form of violence”. – Mahatma Gandhi.

How Poverty is Measured?

For measuring poverty United nations have devised two measures of poverty – Absolute & relative poverty.  Absolute poverty is used to measure poverty in developing countries like India. Relative poverty is used to measure poverty in developed countries like the USA. In absolute poverty, a line based on the minimum level of income has been created & is called a poverty line.  If per day income of a family is below this level, then it is poor or below the poverty line. If per day income of a family is above this level, then it is non-poor or above the poverty line. In India, the new poverty line is  Rs 32 in rural areas and Rs 47 in urban areas.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Causes of Poverty

According to the Noble prize winner South African leader, Nelson Mandela – “Poverty is not natural, it is manmade”. The above statement is true as the causes of poverty are generally man-made. There are various causes of poverty but the most important is population. Rising population is putting the burden on the resources & budget of countries. Governments are finding difficult to provide food, shelter & employment to the rising population.

The other causes are- lack of education, war, natural disaster, lack of employment, lack of infrastructure, political instability, etc. For instance- lack of employment opportunities makes a person jobless & he is not able to earn enough to fulfill the basic necessities of his family & becomes poor. Lack of education compels a person for less paying jobs & it makes him poorer. Lack of infrastructure means there are no industries, banks, etc. in a country resulting in lack of employment opportunities. Natural disasters like flood, earthquake also contribute to poverty.

In some countries, especially African countries like Somalia, a long period of civil war has made poverty widespread. This is because all the resources & money is being spent in war instead of public welfare. Countries like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, etc. are prone to natural disasters like cyclone, etc. These disasters occur every year causing poverty to rise.

Ill Effects of Poverty

Poverty affects the life of a poor family. A poor person is not able to take proper food & nutrition &his capacity to work reduces. Reduced capacity to work further reduces his income, making him poorer. Children from poor family never get proper schooling & proper nutrition. They have to work to support their family & this destroys their childhood. Some of them may also involve in crimes like theft, murder, robbery, etc. A poor person remains uneducated & is forced to live under unhygienic conditions in slums. There are no proper sanitation & drinking water facility in slums & he falls ill often &  his health deteriorates. A poor person generally dies an early death. So, all social evils are related to poverty.

Government Schemes to Remove Poverty

The government of India also took several measures to eradicate poverty from India. Some of them are – creating employment opportunities , controlling population, etc. In India, about 60% of the population is still dependent on agriculture for its livelihood. Government has taken certain measures to promote agriculture in India. The government constructed certain dams & canals in our country to provide easy availability of water for irrigation. Government has also taken steps for the cheap availability of seeds & farming equipment to promote agriculture. Government is also promoting farming of cash crops like cotton, instead of food crops. In cities, the government is promoting industrialization to create more jobs. Government has also opened  ‘Ration shops’. Other measures include providing free & compulsory education for children up to 14 years of age, scholarship to deserving students from a poor background, providing subsidized houses to poor people, etc.

Poverty is a social evil, we can also contribute to control it. For example- we can simply donate old clothes to poor people, we can also sponsor the education of a poor child or we can utilize our free time by teaching poor students. Remember before wasting food, somebody is still sleeping hungry.

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Synonyms of poorly

• as in badly
• More from M-W
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Thesaurus Definition of poorly

 (Entry 1 of 2)

Synonyms & Similar Words

• inadequately
• unsatisfactorily
• incorrectly
• deficiently
• unacceptably
• atrociously
• disastrously
• horrendously
• horrifically
• inappropriately
• intolerably
• egregiously
• insufficiently
• reprehensibly
• unspeakably

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• satisfactorily
• appropriately
• respectably
• felicitously
• congruously
• satisfyingly
• gratifyingly

Thesaurus Definition of poorly  (Entry 2 of 2)

• out of sorts
• under the weather
• symptomatic
• debilitated
• incapacitated
• hypochondriacal
• hypochondriac
• light - headed
• conditioned
• able - bodied
• well - conditioned
• flourishing
• rehabilitated
• convalescing
• recuperating

Examples of poorly in a Sentence

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'poorly.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Thesaurus Entries Near poorly

Cite this entry.

“Poorly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/poorly. Accessed 29 Aug. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on poorly

Nglish: Translation of poorly for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of poorly for Arabic Speakers

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Synonyms for Poor neighborhood

48 other terms for poor neighborhood - words and phrases with similar meaning.

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