impoverished

adjective

im·​pov·​er·​ished im-ˈpä-v(ə-)risht 

1

: reduced to poverty : poor

an impoverished family/community

2

: exhausted of richness or fertility

impoverished soils

3

of a fauna or flora : represented by few species or individuals

Synonyms of impoverished

• poor
• broke
• beggared
• deprived
• bankrupt

Examples of impoverished in a Sentence

the widespread hope that the lottery's record-setting jackpot is won by an impoverished family

an impoverished field that over the years had been overgrazed

Recent Examples on the Web

Cities like Chicago — long a haven for Mexican immigrants with ties to families and a community — became landing spots for migrants from increasingly impoverished and authoritarian places such as Venezuela. —Joe Mahr, Chicago Tribune, 31 Mar. 2026

And because of their status, undocumented students are also more likely to come from impoverished backgrounds, says Caitlin Patler, a professor of public policy at UC Berkeley. —Jonaki Mehta, NPR, 30 Mar. 2026

The son of an impoverished netmaker, Spence never left England. —Will Glovinsky, The Conversation, 30 Mar. 2026

Snares, often set by impoverished communities to catch small game for food, are indiscriminate and can trap any animal. —New Atlas, 29 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1611, in the meaning defined at sense 1