1
a
: lacking sufficient money or material possessions
too poor to buy new clothes
b
: of, relating to, or characterized by poverty
a poor nation
2
a
: less than adequate : meager
a poor effort
poor attendance
b
: small in worth
3
: exciting pity
you poor thing
4
a
: inferior in quality or value
had poor language skills
b
6
: barren, unproductive
—used of land
7
: indifferent, unfavorable
had a poor opinion of them
a poor profession
8
: lacking a normal or adequate supply of something specified
—often used in combination
oil-poor countries
poorness
noun
Examples of poor in a Sentence
We were too poor to buy new clothes.
The organization helps poor families.
She has a poor vocabulary.
It was a poor attempt at a joke.
He is in poor condition.
She couldn't read the sign because her vision was too poor.
Recent Examples on the Web
Common travel regrets stem from preventable issues like poor planning, budget problems, and choosing the wrong companions.
—
Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 3 June 2026
O’Farrell’s inclination for narratives propelled by brutal coincidence and fatally poor timing tenders a Hardy-esque vision of the world, one that emphasizes the rigid, often cruel limits of an individual’s jurisdiction over the course of their life.
—Rachel Vorona Cote, Vulture, 2 June 2026
That said, the fact that advertising doesn’t cover the hefty fees associated with carrying NFL games doesn’t necessarily make the Shield a poor investment.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 2 June 2026
Detainees, attorneys representing them and advocates have alleged inadequate medical care, poor living conditions and delays in immigration proceedings.
—Nicole Acevedo, NBC news, 2 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for poor
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Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 3 June 2026
O’Farrell’s inclination for narratives propelled by brutal coincidence and fatally poor timing tenders a Hardy-esque vision of the world, one that emphasizes the rigid, often cruel limits of an individual’s jurisdiction over the course of their life.
—Rachel Vorona Cote, Vulture, 2 June 2026
That said, the fact that advertising doesn’t cover the hefty fees associated with carrying NFL games doesn’t necessarily make the Shield a poor investment.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 2 June 2026
Detainees, attorneys representing them and advocates have alleged inadequate medical care, poor living conditions and delays in immigration proceedings.
—Nicole Acevedo, NBC news, 2 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for poor
Cite this Entry
“Poor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/poor. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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