impoverish

1 of 2

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

impoverishment

2 of 2

noun

im·​pov·​er·​ish·​ment -mənt 

plural -s

: the act of impoverishing or the state of being impoverished

soil impoverishment

spiritual impoverishment

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

Verb

The dictator enriched himself but impoverished his people.

Poor farming practices impoverished the soil.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Uranium enrichment has impoverished national enrichment. — Karim Sadjadpour, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2026

To take three thousand pounds from the fortune of their dear little boy would be impoverishing him to the most dreadful degree. — Literary Hub, 16 Mar. 2026

As the largest private employer in the nation, Walmart’s labor practices impoverish some of its own shoppers—and in turn impact their food choices. — Annie Levin, Washington Post, 10 Feb. 2026

To overthrow a government that uses brutality and coercion to cling to power and whose militancy had made their country an international pariah, impoverishing its citizens. — Molly Hunter, NBC news, 30 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

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

Noun

Anglo-French empoverissement, from Middle French empovriss- + -ment

First Known Use

Verb

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