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.
Like De Fontenay’s debut feature Mobile Homes, which followed an impoverished family scraping by in upstate New York, Sukkwan Island has a powerful immersive quality that makes up for some of its dramatic shortcomings, especially dialogue that can feel either stilted or too on-the-nose. Jordan Mintzer, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Jan. 2025 The states that voted for Trump also tend to be more dependent on those federal funds and have more impoverished areas. Peter Greene, Forbes, 24 Jan. 2025 This is reflective of national data that shows that because of historic and systemic inequities, people of color are more likely to be impoverished and experience housing instability. Ginny Monk, Hartford Courant, 18 Jan. 2025 That includes the asylum-seekers who flooded Chicago and elsewhere after arriving from impoverished countries such as Venezuela, becoming an animating force during the 2024 presidential election given their plights and extensive need for city resources. Alice Yin, Chicago Tribune, 15 Jan. 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

Dictionary Entries Near impoverished

Cite this Entry

“Impoverished.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/impoverished. Accessed 14 Feb. 2025.

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