poverty-stricken

[ pov-er-tee-strik-uhn ]

adjective

1. suffering from poverty; extremely poor:

   poverty-stricken refugees.

poverty-stricken

adjective

1. suffering from extreme poverty

Word History and Origins

Origin of poverty-stricken¹

First recorded in 1795–1805

Example Sentences

The decision means there will be more preventable deaths in the 17 poverty-stricken counties along Interstate 95 that constitute the Corridor of Shame, Brown said.

From Salon

He was calling from a jail in Jehanabad, a poverty-stricken district and, at the time, a stronghold of left-wing extremism.

From BBC

In the production, Fairman’s story depicts her compassion, a quality which took root in the poverty-stricken city where she grew up and continues to this day through her volunteer work in Los Angeles.

From Seattle Times

I think if you take a camera into any rural area or area that's poverty-stricken, it's not gonna look pretty, but somehow we were special.

From Salon

Such long observational records, especially for less developed and poverty-stricken places like southern Madagascar, are only available from satellites.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• destitute
• distressed
• impoverished
• indigent
• needy
• poor
• strapped