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
This past week, aid groups raised the alarm, saying thousands of children have become malnourished and most people are barely eating one meal a day as supplies dwindle, according to the United Nations.
—Arkansas Online, 20 Apr. 2025
Ivy’s twin sister, also inside the apartment, was malnourished and unresponsive when police arrived.
—Laura Bauer, Kansas City Star, 18 Apr. 2025
Thousands of children have become malnourished, and most people are barely eating one meal a day as stocks dwindle, the United Nations says.
—Wafaa Shurafa, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2025
But the cub was severely dehydrated and malnourished, the person who rescued him said.
—Brooke Baitinger, Miami Herald, 11 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for malnourished
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Arkansas Online, 20 Apr. 2025
Ivy’s twin sister, also inside the apartment, was malnourished and unresponsive when police arrived.
—Laura Bauer, Kansas City Star, 18 Apr. 2025
Thousands of children have become malnourished, and most people are barely eating one meal a day as stocks dwindle, the United Nations says.
—Wafaa Shurafa, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2025
But the cub was severely dehydrated and malnourished, the person who rescued him said.
—Brooke Baitinger, Miami Herald, 11 Apr. 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 6 May. 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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