impoverished

adjective

im·​pov·​er·​ished im-ˈpä-v(ə-)risht How to pronounce impoverished (audio)
Synonyms of impoverishednext
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.
Salt was another luxury for the impoverished migrants. Literary Hub, 4 Mar. 2026 Cinema-going culture has struggled to take hold in much of South Africa, particularly in townships and other impoverished communities, prompting the organizers to focus on building that culture in the next generation of South African moviegoers and filmmakers. Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 2 Mar. 2026 Iran wanted Iraq to remain weak and submissive, and in the meantime, corrupt Iranian officials could suck its resources, profit personally, and leave the country an impoverished mess. Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 1 Mar. 2026 Iran, Afghanistan's western neighbor, has also carried out expulsions, further straining resources in impoverished Afghanistan. ABC News, 27 Feb. 2026 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 11 Mar. 2026.

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