poorest
Least financially secure
Poorest is the superlative form of poor, indicating the most extreme degree of poverty or lack.
When applied to wealth, it identifies those with the least money or resources: the poorest families in the district.
It extends beyond finances to describe the lowest quality or most inadequate examples of something: That was the poorest excuse I've ever heard.
In competitive contexts, poorest marks the worst performer: She had the poorest showing among all the candidates.
Superlative of inferior
- lowestLeast in position
- weakestLeast strong or capable
- feeblestMost lacking in strength
- shoddiestLowest in quality
lousiest · substandard · scantiest · paltriest · lamest · rock-bottom
Extremely poor, lacking necessities
- needyWanting in essentials
- pauperizedMade extremely poor
- homelessWithout a dwelling
- dispossessedDeprived of home or land
bankrupt · insolvent · down-and-out · penurious · beggarly · bereft · vagrant · unsheltered
State of lacking necessities
- privationLack of necessities
- scarcityInsufficiency of something needed
- malnutritionDisease from dietary inadequacy
- starvationExtreme nutritional deprivation
suffering · want · subsistence · austerity · adversity · misfortune · homelessness · hunger
Measurable difference between things
- marginalizationRelegation to powerless periphery
- disadvantageUnfavorable circumstance or condition
- exclusionBeing barred from participation
- underclassLowest socioeconomic group
underprivileged · disenfranchised · oppressed · forgotten · neglected · exploited · stratification · systemic
worst
Superlative of inferior
shoddiest · lousiest · substandard · scantiest · paltriest · lamest · rock-bottom
indigent
Extremely poor, lacking necessities
- needyWanting in essentials
- pauperizedMade extremely poor
- homelessWithout a dwelling
dispossessed · bankrupt · insolvent · down-and-out · penurious · beggarly · bereft · vagrant · unsheltered · deprived
deprivation
State of lacking necessities
- privationLack of necessities
- scarcityInsufficiency of something needed
- malnutritionDisease from dietary inadequacy
starvation · suffering · want · subsistence · austerity · adversity · misfortune · homelessness · hunger · desperation
disparity
Measurable difference between things
- marginalizationRelegation to powerless periphery
- disadvantageUnfavorable circumstance or condition
- exclusionBeing barred from participation
underclass · underprivileged · disenfranchised · oppressed · forgotten · neglected · exploited · stratification · systemic · ghettoization
struggling
Experiencing serious difficulty
- survivingRemaining alive or intact
- enduringPersisting through time
- perseveringMaintaining effort despite difficulty
coping · striving · toiling · grinding · resilient · tenacious · fighting · overcoming · managing · undaunted