impoverish

verb

im·​pov·​er·​ish im-ˈpä-v(ə-)rish How to pronounce impoverish (audio)
impoverished; impoverishing; impoverishes

transitive verb

1
: to make poor
2
: to deprive of strength, richness, or fertility by depleting or draining of something essential
impoverisher noun
impoverishment noun
Choose the Right Synonym for impoverish

deplete, drain, exhaust, impoverish, bankrupt mean to deprive of something essential to existence or potency.

deplete implies a reduction in number or quantity so as to endanger the ability to function.

depleting our natural resources

drain implies a gradual withdrawal and ultimate deprivation of what is necessary to an existence.

personal tragedy had drained him of all spirit

exhaust stresses a complete emptying.

her lecture exhausted the subject

impoverish suggests a deprivation of something essential to richness or productiveness.

impoverished soil

bankrupt suggests impoverishment to the point of imminent collapse.

war had bankrupted the nation of resources

Examples of impoverish in a Sentence

The dictator enriched himself but impoverished his people. Poor farming practices impoverished the soil.
Recent Examples on the Web Even without ceremony, shaming is a universal way small groups discourage anti-social behavior—especially when the pursuit of self-interest endangers or impoverishes the group as a whole. John C. Goodman, Forbes, 19 Sep. 2024 Putin has degraded political freedom, impoverished the media landscape, and forced many talented Russians into exile. Maksim Samorukov, Foreign Affairs, 25 Apr. 2024 Businesses will best prosper on a planet that is not impoverished by a climate crisis, as well as in stable communities with lower levels of inequality, a vibrant middle class, and a respect for fundamental human rights. Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 30 May 2024 If forced to go into inadequate prescription benefit programs, many retirees will be spending thousands of dollars each year for life saving medications, eventually impoverishing their family. Susan McComas, Baltimore Sun, 23 Feb. 2024 See all Example Sentences for impoverish 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'impoverish.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English enpoverisshen, from Anglo-French empoveriss-, stem of empoverir, from en- + povre poor — more at poor

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of impoverish was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near impoverish

Cite this Entry

“Impoverish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/impoverish. Accessed 14 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

impoverish

verb
im·​pov·​er·​ish im-ˈpäv-(ə-)rish How to pronounce impoverish (audio)
1
: to make poor
2
: to use up the strength or richness of
impoverished soil
impoverishment noun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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