Penury
hardPEN-yuh-ree
noun
Definition
extreme poverty; destitution
Examples
“Once a wealthy merchant, he ended his days in utter penury.”
“The novel depicts the penury of families crowded into nineteenth-century tenements.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
wealthaffluenceprosperityopulence
Categories
GRE Tip
Penury is a hard-difficulty GRE word. On the GRE, you might see it paired with synonyms like "destitution" or "indigence" in Sentence Equivalence questions. Look for contrast clues (however, despite, although) that signal the opposite meaning. Words like "wealth".
Related GRE Words
indigence
extreme poverty
aberrant
Deviating from what is normal or expected
aberration
A departure from what is normal, usual, or expected
abeyance
a state of temporary suspension or inactivity
abscond
To leave secretly and hide, especially to avoid arrest or prosecution
abstemious
Moderate in eating and drinking; self-restrained
Master penury and 1,000+ GRE words
Learn through stories, practice with real GRE questions, and never forget with spaced repetition.