Are you writing a character who is living in poverty? Do you need some help? In this post, we explain how to describe a poor person in a story. Read on to get some ideas on describing the poor character in your writing through the following list of words.
1. Unassertive
Definition
Someone who isn’t aggressive or assertive.
Examples
“The man was unassertive, especially when people spoke of businesses and economics. He knew no one would listen to him because of his poor finances.”
“She passed the unassertive beggar as he trembled quietly on the street corner.”
“The unassertive beggar silently sat amongst the hustle and bustle of the city. He’d never felt more alone in his life.”
How it Adds Description
A character who’s poor or doesn’t have much might be “unassertive,” especially when wealth comes up in conversation. This could be because they’re embarrassed about their finances and don’t want to draw attention to their own situation. Being “unassertive” about money may also hint that the character lacks confidence in general.
2. Stubborn
Definition
Someone who is unwilling to change their mind or determined to do what they want.
Examples
“The chimney sweep was stubborn when it came to finances. He didn’t want to admit that his career didn’t make much money at all.”
“The poor woman was stubborn about her opinions — and she believed the upper classes were evil.”
How it Adds Description
The adjective “stubborn” portrays a poor character who is unwilling to admit the truth about their situation or is stuck in their ways. This can make life much harder for them, as they may miss chances to improve their living conditions and make more money due to inflexible beliefs.
3. Cheerless
Definition
Someone pessimistic or gloomy.
Examples
“The three men were cheerless as they walked out of the casino. Their life savings were gone, and they had nowhere to go.”
“Every trip to the job center was cheerless, but she had to make the journey in order to collect her small monthly wages.”
How it Adds Description
“Cheerless” describes a character who is sad or upset about their situation, and this acts very negatively towards everything. This might make them a difficult person to be around, as other people might find it challenging to put up with their constant gloomy outlook caused by their poverty or financial problems.
4. Content
Definition
Someone who accepts what they have and doesn’t wish for more.
Examples
“She had no money or property but had never been more content with her life.”
“He was content with his unique lifestyle. Yes, he lacked riches and opulence. But he could sleep under the stars without worries.”
How it Adds Description
Not all poor characters are unhappy with their lives, and “content” can help you show this. A “content” character is likely satisfied with their lifestyle, and they probably don’t wish for more or dream of being wealthy. This behavior might make them popular with others, as they’re positive to be around and don’t stress much.
5. Scruffy
Definition
Someone who is untidy or scruffy.
Examples
“She tried her best to tidy her appearance, but without money for the latest fashions and beauty products, she appeared scruffy and rundown.”
“The scruffy man lived on the corner of the street, for he had no money, no family, and no home.”
How it Adds Description
“Scruffy” describes the physical effects being poor can have. For example, a character may not be able to take care of themselves because they can’t afford sanitation or toiletries, leaving them looking “scruffy.” A character who looks “scruffy” might be judged or ignored by others, and this could isolate them from society or richer groups.
6. Envious
Definition
Someone who wants what others have.
Examples
“The envious woman always glared at the wealthy ladies while they shopped. She would do anything to swap her scarcity with their affluence.”
“The homeless man was envious of everyone asleep in their warm homes.”
How it Adds Description
The word “envious” shows that the poor character is aware of their poorness and wishes to have the wealth that others experience. This can make them bitter and jealous, as they feel like life has scorned them because they’ve fallen on hard times. Other characters might find this trait irritating, as the poor character is likely always complaining.
7. Industrious
Definition
Someone who works very hard.
Examples
“Despite his industrious personality, the impoverished man could never save any money.”
“The Victorian woman was industrious with her work, and she had to be as she was barely paid a living wage.”
How it Adds Description
“Industrious” shows that despite their minuscule finances, the poor character does have a strong work ethic. This makes their situation even more unfortunate, as their poverty isn’t due to their lack of ambition or bad work ethic.
8. Timid
Definition
Someone who’s nervous or shy and doesn’t have courage.
Examples
“The impoverished girl was clearly timid, making many passersby stop and place coins in her hat out of pity.”
“He strove to be self-assured, but every time he remembered his bank balance, he became timid again.”
How it Adds Description
Poor characters might be “timid,” especially if they once had wealth and lost it. This is because they might know how society judges poorer people, and they are now part of that group. Other characters might feel sorry for poor and “timid” characters and could show their sympathy through money or gifts.
9. Unfortunate
Definition
Someone who is unlucky or had something unpleasant happen to them.
Examples
“All his life, the beggar had been an unfortunate person.”
“The unfortunate man tried his best to better his situation, but once again, the fates were against his wishes.”
How it Adds Description
“Unfortunate” describes a character who falls on hard times no matter what they say or do. This could be due to bad luck or simply chance, but it is likely to make them feel depressed and sorry for themselves.
10. Hopeful
Definition
Someone who is positive and confident that something good will happen.
Examples
“Though he’d experienced years of poverty and hardship, the man was hopeful for the future.”
“Passersby thought the smiling homeless woman was crazy, but she was simply hopeful that tomorrow would be a good day.”
How it Adds Description
If you want to show your poor character is looking forward to the future and fairly confident that their life will improve, “hopeful” is an apt word to use. This shows that they’re optimistic about their situation, and they may also frequently dream about a better life.