impoverished

1 of 2

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

impoverished

2 of 2

past tense and past participle of impoverish

Synonyms of impoverished

Adjective

• poor
• broke
• beggared
• deprived
• bankrupt

Examples of impoverished in a Sentence

Adjective

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

Adjective

The fighting is pushing the impoverished nation back into full-fledged civil war, after a truce that largely maintained quiet since 2022. — ABC News, 14 Sep. 2026

The story centers on an impoverished young miner living a muted existence in a remote town where emotional reticence is the norm among men. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 11 Sep. 2026

But perhaps the most impressive thing the seemingly tireless Parton did during her 80 years was donate much of her wealth to impoverished communities. — Donna Vickroy, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026

The loosened restrictions will not empower Washington to pursue investment and economic cooperation with al Sharaa’s government, which could transform the impoverished country. — Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 27 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1611, in the meaning defined at sense 1