penury

战争过后，这个国家陷入了物资极度匮乏的困境。

After the war, the country was in a state of ___penury, lacking even basic supplies.

那位作曲家住在冰窖般的阁楼里、极度贫困中写出了他最伟大的交响曲。

The composer wrote his greatest symphony while living in abject ___penury in a freezing attic.

失业后他陷入了贫困，不得不在买食物和付房租之间做选择。

After losing his job, he slipped into ___penury and had to choose between buying food or paying rent.