impoverished

adjective

im·​pov·​er·​ished im-ˈpä-v(ə-)risht How to pronounce impoverished (audio)
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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Many are located in impoverished barrios dominated by criminals — who are now demanding a cut of their tuition fees. John Otis, NPR, 7 July 2025 The ignorant need cultural immersion at the American Museum of the Cuban Diaspora, which tells the story of those who fled the Cuban island that went from a free, prosperous republic to an oppressive, impoverished dictatorship within a single generation. Luka Ladan, New York Daily News, 5 July 2025 Students from impoverished backgrounds — meaning those who qualify for free-and-reduced lunch — attending Butler, Male and Manual high schools will also regain access, with about 2,000 students falling into this group. Krista Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 2 July 2025 Six of the city's seven most impoverished neighborhoods are home to residents with the greatest vulnerability to heat, The Enquirer found. Dan Horn, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for impoverished

Word History

First Known Use

1611, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of impoverished was in 1611

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Cite this Entry

“Impoverished.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/impoverished. Accessed 13 Jul. 2025.

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