ISEE/SSAT Vocabulary Builder›Words›I›indigence
ISEE/SSAThard
indigence
extreme poverty; state of lacking basic necessities
Synonyms
- poverty
- destitution
- penury
Antonyms
- wealth
- affluence
- prosperity
indigence in a sentence
Years of drought pushed the farming village into deep indigence and hardship.
After losing his factory job and savings within a single year, he slid quietly into indigence, relying on neighbors for basic meals.
Where it comes from
From Latin indigere 'to need'
Memory hook
INDIGence sounds like 'in dig-ence' — a person in indigence must dig for whatever they can find to survive.
Read it in context
- Voices Across Generations Social Science