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
The first step was to feed the malnourished pup.
—Maria Morava, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 2025
Even after deliveries resumed, much of the population remained dangerously malnourished.
—Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, The Atlantic, 23 Sep. 2025
Undernutrition deaths happen ‘almost every month’ Hassan Abubakar Bukar, a nutrition counsellor in Borno, told CNN that malnourished children are a painfully common sight.
—Lauren Kent, CNN Money, 21 Sep. 2025
Homeowners in Godley's Star Ranch subdivision told NBC DFW that the animals, often seen roaming near new housing developments, appear malnourished and at risk of disease.
—Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 16 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for malnourished
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Maria Morava, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 2025
Even after deliveries resumed, much of the population remained dangerously malnourished.
—Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, The Atlantic, 23 Sep. 2025
Undernutrition deaths happen ‘almost every month’ Hassan Abubakar Bukar, a nutrition counsellor in Borno, told CNN that malnourished children are a painfully common sight.
—Lauren Kent, CNN Money, 21 Sep. 2025
Homeowners in Godley's Star Ranch subdivision told NBC DFW that the animals, often seen roaming near new housing developments, appear malnourished and at risk of disease.
—Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 16 Sep. 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 30 Sep. 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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