A library run by a volunteer group in New Delhi’s largest slum resettlement colony is helping underprivileged teenagers become writers.
Source: tatoeba (7800214)
Underprivileged
Synonyms for "underprivileged" (121 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (25)
Strong matches (36)
ghetto-dwellersghettoizedhandicappedhaplesshumbleill offill-fatedill-offill-starredimpoverishedin adverse circumstancesin needin ragsin the shadein wantinauspiciousindigentinferiorinfra digjunior
Adjective(3 words)
Related words (60)
on reliefordinaryout at elbowsout of luckoutcastspauperizedplanet-struckpoorpoverty strickenpoverty subculturepoverty-strickensadsecond ranksecond stringsecondaryservileshort of luckslum-dwellersstar crossedstar-crossed
Show 31 more words
starvelingstrippedsubsubalternsubjectsubordinatesubservientthe disadvantagedthe dispossessedthe distressedthe down-and-outthe forgotten manthe have-notsthe needythe other americathe poorthe powerlessthe underprivilegedthe urban poorthird rankthird stringtoughunblessedunderdeveloped nationunfortunateunhappyunluckyunprosperousunprovidentialvulgarwelfare rolls
Adjective(8 words)
Verb(1 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: badly off, beggared, beggarly, bereaved, bereft.
- Sentence evidence is available for underprivileged, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from moby, opengloss, derived_reverse.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "underprivileged".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "underprivileged"
Keep "underprivileged" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "underprivileged" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "underprivileged", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "underprivileged" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
9 entriesdemographic groupeconomic attributepeoplepolicy categorypopulationpopulation segmentsocial groupsocioeconomic descriptorsocioeconomic group
More specific
11 entriesbeneficiariesdisadvantaged populationseconomically disadvantaged youthlow income familieslow income grouplow income householdsthe economically disadvantagedthe needythe poorurban underprivilegedwelfare recipients
Collocations
8 entriesthe underprivilegedunderprivileged backgroundunderprivileged childrenunderprivileged communitiesunderprivileged familiesunderprivileged groupsunderprivileged studentsunderprivileged youth
Inflections
2 entriesmore underprivilegedmost underprivileged
Antonyms
1 entriessimilar
5 entriesSample sentences
6 total sentences available.
The underprivileged beggar was not eligible for financial aid.
Source: tatoeba (9762869)
A major U.S. electronic retailer says it wants to help immigrant and underprivileged teens gain the technology skills they'll need for the job market.
Source: tatoeba (11229148)
Wherever there has been censorship, the first people to suffer from it are underprivileged minorities.
Source: tatoeba (13440954)
Showing 4 of 6 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "underprivileged"?
Closest matches include badly off, beggared, beggarly, bereaved, bereft.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "underprivileged"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.