malnourished
adjective
mal·nour·ished
ˌmal-ˈnər-isht 
-ˈnə-risht
: supplied with less than the minimum or an unbalanced amount of the nutrients or foods essential for sound health and growth : marked by malnutrition
When it comes to certain nutrients, in fact, an estimated 80 to 90 percent of obese individuals are malnourished.—
Maria Konnikova
Maria Konnikova
especially
: undernourished sense 1
How do you help malnourished children and assure that they won't go hungry again after you leave? —Melissa Hendricks
Melissa Hendricks Patients may become malnourished from being unable to take food by mouth … —Laura Landro
Laura Landro Examples of malnourished in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Due to the inability to absorb adequate nutrients, the body might become malnourished.
—Pamela Assid Woughter, Verywell Health, 9 Jan. 2026
The Erie Police Animal Control said someone found a severely malnourished dog wandering around the 1300 block of Reliance Pass on Monday.
—Christa Swanson, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026
During the investigation, deputies identified three severely malnourished dogs and more than 60 chickens and roosters confined in cages without adequate food, water or shelter.
—Jacob Beltran, San Antonio Express-News, 5 Jan. 2026
In August, a panel of international experts on food insecurity, backed by the United Nations, declared a famine in the region, and the suffering of malnourished children made headlines.
—Michal Ruprecht, NPR, 28 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for malnourished
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Pamela Assid Woughter, Verywell Health, 9 Jan. 2026
The Erie Police Animal Control said someone found a severely malnourished dog wandering around the 1300 block of Reliance Pass on Monday.
—Christa Swanson, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026
During the investigation, deputies identified three severely malnourished dogs and more than 60 chickens and roosters confined in cages without adequate food, water or shelter.
—Jacob Beltran, San Antonio Express-News, 5 Jan. 2026
In August, a panel of international experts on food insecurity, backed by the United Nations, declared a famine in the region, and the suffering of malnourished children made headlines.
—Michal Ruprecht, NPR, 28 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for malnourished
Cite this Entry
“Malnourished.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/malnourished. Accessed 21 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
malnourished
adjective
mal·nour·ished
(ˈ)mal-ˈnər-isht
-ˈnə-risht
: poorly nourished : undernourished
Medical Definition
malnourished
adjective
mal·nour·ished
(ˈ)mal-ˈnər-isht, -ˈnə-risht
: supplied with less than the minimum or an unbalanced amount of the nutrients or foods essential for sound health and growth : marked by malnutrition
When it comes to certain nutrients, in fact, an estimated 80 to 90 percent of obese individuals are malnourished.—Maria Konnikova
Maria Konnikova
especially
: undernourished
How do you help malnourished children and assure that they won't go hungry again after you leave? —Melissa Hendricks
Melissa Hendricks Patients may become malnourished from being unable to take food by mouth … —Laura Landro
Laura Landro Love words? Need even more definitions?
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