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Destitution - Meaning, Definition & English Examples

Destitution refers to extreme poverty, where a person lacks basic necessities like food, shelter, and clothing. It implies severe hardship and an inability to meet essential needs for survival.

destitution

/ˌdɛstɪˈtuʃən/ /ˌdɛstɪˈtjuːʃən/

Definition:

Extreme poverty leading to lack of basic necessities like food and shelter.

Synonyms:

impoverishment, penury, privation, neediness

Part of Speech:

noun

Antonyms:

wealth, affluence, prosperity

Common Collocations:

extreme destitution, live in destitution, reduce to destitution, widespread destitution

Derivatives:

destitute (adj.), destituteness (n.)

Usage Tips:

Use "destitution" to describe severe poverty; avoid for temporary or minor financial struggles.

Common Phrases:

reduced to destitution, brink of destitution, depths of destitution

Etymology:

From Latin "destitutio," meaning abandonment or forsaking, derived from "destituere" (to forsake).

Examples:

  • 1. The war left many families in utter destitution.
  • 2. Charities work to alleviate destitution in impoverished regions.
  • 3. His reckless spending led him to near destitution.
  • 4. She wrote about the destitution she witnessed in the slums.

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