Antonym: luxury. Similar words: penurious, nurse, bury, jury, injury, century, menu, revenue. Meaning: ['penjərɪ /-jʊr-] 
n. a state of extreme poverty or destitution.
n. a state of extreme poverty or destitution. 31. An episode of illness may reduce a poor household to penury, especially when they have to sell their productive assets in order to cover health care outlays.