noun

destitution

destitution, poverty, penury

The war left them in a state of destitution.

The war left them in a state of destitution.

Many families face destitution due to unemployment.

Many families face destitution due to unemployment.

in a state of ((destitution)) The war left them in a state of destitution.

Synonyms: poverty, penury, indigence; Antonyms: wealth, affluence

From Latin 'de-' (away) + 'statuere' (to place), meaning a state of being abandoned or left without resources.

Think of being 'de-instituted' – left without the support of any institution, hence in extreme poverty.

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