A state of extreme poverty is a difficult situation in which people lack the basic necessities of life, such as food, shelter, and clothing. This term can be broken down into several crossword solutions: NEED (4 letters), PENURY (6 letters), NEEDINESS (9 letters), RAGE (4 letters), BEGGARY (7 letters), RAGS (4 letters), and BEGGARLY (8 letters). NEED and NEEDINESS refer to the lack of resources and necessities, while PENURY and BEGGARY refer to the extreme poverty itself. RAGE and RAGS are associated with the desperation and destitution that often accompany poverty. BEGGARLY is used to describe the extreme poverty and destitution of those living in such conditions.