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
He was also covered in fleas and looked extremely malnourished.
—Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 July 2025
The health ministry posted pictures on social media of doctors holding paper signs about malnourished children and lack of medication.
—Wafaa Shurafa, Chicago Tribune, 20 July 2025
The officers allegedly found five additional dogs at the residence that were also malnourished and suffering from skin infections, according to police.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 19 July 2025
That includes dozens of programs supporting services to combat diseases like HIV/AID, malaria and polio as well as those that provide food aid for malnourished children and clean water for vulnerable populations.
—Fatma Tanis, NPR, 16 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for malnourished
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Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 July 2025
The health ministry posted pictures on social media of doctors holding paper signs about malnourished children and lack of medication.
—Wafaa Shurafa, Chicago Tribune, 20 July 2025
The officers allegedly found five additional dogs at the residence that were also malnourished and suffering from skin infections, according to police.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 19 July 2025
That includes dozens of programs supporting services to combat diseases like HIV/AID, malaria and polio as well as those that provide food aid for malnourished children and clean water for vulnerable populations.
—Fatma Tanis, NPR, 16 July 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 26 Jul. 2025.
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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