impoverish

verb

im·​pov·​er·​ish im-ˈpä-v(ə-)rish 

impoverished; impoverishing; impoverishes

transitive verb

1

: to make poor

2

: to deprive of strength, richness, or fertility by depleting or draining of something essential

impoverisher noun

impoverishment

im-ˈpä-v(ə-)rish-mənt 

noun

Choose the Right Synonym for impoverish

deplete, drain, exhaust, impoverish, bankrupt mean to deprive of something essential to existence or potency.

deplete implies a reduction in number or quantity so as to endanger the ability to function.

depleting our natural resources

drain implies a gradual withdrawal and ultimate deprivation of what is necessary to an existence.

personal tragedy had drained him of all spirit

exhaust stresses a complete emptying.

her lecture exhausted the subject

impoverish suggests a deprivation of something essential to richness or productiveness.

impoverished soil

bankrupt suggests impoverishment to the point of imminent collapse.

war had bankrupted the nation of resources

Examples of impoverish in a Sentence

The dictator enriched himself but impoverished his people.

Poor farming practices impoverished the soil.

Recent Examples on the Web

Cinema sometimes has to know how to give in to a cause, but another thing entirely is to impoverish cinema by attributing to documentary cinema a mere and strict role of denunciation. —Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 25 Sep. 2025

In one of the most unfortunate episodes in Haitian history, France not only impoverished the Haitian people but got away with what may very well be the greatest heist in history. —Marlene L. Daut september 22, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2025

Silencing us impoverishes the whole world. —Bethy Squires, Vulture, 20 Sep. 2025

Silencing us impoverishes the whole world. —Amanda Castro shane Croucher anna Commander, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English enpoverisshen, from Anglo-French empoveriss-, stem of empoverir, from en- + povre poor — more at poor

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

impoverish

verb

im·​pov·​er·​ish im-ˈpäv-(ə-)rish 

1

: to make poor

2

: to use up the strength or richness of

impoverished soil

impoverishment

-mənt 

noun