Entry Word: poor

Function: adjective

Meaning: 1 lacking money or material possessions <every year, we make up a basket of food at Thanksgiving for a poor family in the neighborhood>

Synonyms beggared, broke, destitute, impecunious, impoverished, indigent, needy, penniless, penurious, poverty-stricken, stone-broke

Related Words deprived, disadvantaged, underprivileged; bankrupt, bankrupted, insolvent; depressed, pinched, reduced, straitened; low, short

Phrases hard up

Near Antonyms comfortable, prosperous

Antonyms affluent, flush, moneyed (or monied), opulent, rich, wealthy, well-heeled, well-off, well-to-do

2 producing inferior or only a small amount of vegetation <land that is too poor for farming> — see barren 1
3 less plentiful than what is normal, necessary, or desirable <a poor crop because of the drought this year> — see meager
4 falling short of a standard <a pretty poor musician> — see bad 1
5 of low quality <the poor workmanship of the goods from that country> — see cheap 2
6 deserving of oneʼs pity <the poor kitten hurt its paw> — see pathetic 1