1
as in impoverished
lacking money or material possessions
every year, we make up a basket of food at Thanksgiving for a poor family in the neighborhood
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in desolate
producing inferior or only a small amount of vegetation
land that is too poor for farming
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in scarce
less plentiful than what is normal, necessary, or desirable
a poor crop because of the drought this year
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in unacceptable
falling short of a standard
a pretty poor musician, even for a garage band
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in terrible
of low quality
the poor workmanship of the goods from that store
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6
as in pitiful
deserving of one's pity
aw, the poor kitten hurt its paw
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of poor
During the 2026-27 school year, the last day of school will fall on a Monday, June 28, which will likely see poor attendance as some parents yank their children from the classroom for summer camp and family vacations.
—
Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 21 Apr. 2026
But there is every reason to think that private equity will continue to play a significant role in the development of rich and poor nations alike.
—Hettie O'Brien, The Dial, 21 Apr. 2026
Second, Maryland is tackling poor health by addressing its root cause — bad food.
—Rajiv J. Shah, Baltimore Sun, 21 Apr. 2026
Stone-faced, with deadly seriousness, McDaniels called out Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and the rest of the Nuggets for their poor defense.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 21 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for poor
Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 21 Apr. 2026
But there is every reason to think that private equity will continue to play a significant role in the development of rich and poor nations alike.
—Hettie O'Brien, The Dial, 21 Apr. 2026
Second, Maryland is tackling poor health by addressing its root cause — bad food.
—Rajiv J. Shah, Baltimore Sun, 21 Apr. 2026
Stone-faced, with deadly seriousness, McDaniels called out Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and the rest of the Nuggets for their poor defense.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 21 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for poor
Recent Examples of Synonyms for poor
Adjective
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As Rose’s impoverished yet imperious mother Ruth, Parson’s dry deliveries offer great comic ballast to this ship of fools.—
Frank Rizzo,
Variety,
13 Apr. 2026
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Jack grew up in an impoverished single-parent household and David is from a wealthy Texan family.—
Cressida Leyshon,
New Yorker,
12 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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For myself, having a Wrangler is the perfect vehicle to just drive these desolate roads.—
Morgan Korn,
ABC News,
17 Apr. 2026
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Eastern New Mexico — dry, desolate — looks and feels very much like an appendage of West Texas.—
Mark Z. Barabak,
Mercury News,
14 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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European and Asian allies, cut out of decision-making before the war began, have been left competing with one another for scarce energy deliveries, with some turning to America's adversaries for supplies.—
Eyck Freymann,
Time,
17 Apr. 2026
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Since this is a scarce resource, most NICUs reserve it for the smallest preterm newborns and cannot provide it throughout an infant’s entire hospital stay.—
Alexander Crider,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Clearly, those are unacceptable results.—
Chris Perkins,
Sun Sentinel,
15 Apr. 2026
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Trump, back in Washington, told the New York Post that even the deal Vance brought was unacceptable.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
15 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Not terrible, but far from correct.—
Jenn Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Apr. 2026
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Matt wasn't so sure, pointing to his record of selling drugs and trafficking weapons, but Foggy argued in favor of giving even someone who has done terrible things a second chance.—
Brendan Morrow,
USA Today,
15 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Most of the time, experts say, vaguebooking boils down to a pitiful plea for attention on the part of the poster.—
Charles Trepany,
USA Today,
9 Apr. 2026
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Given that California ranks a pitiful 49th in the nation in the condition, safety and costs of roads and bridges, according to the Reason Foundation’s 2025 Annual Highway Report, taxpayers’ transportation dollars would likely be better spent elsewhere.—
Adam Summers,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
20 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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When news of the remains’ being found broke, Burke was on his Withered World Tour.—
Andrew Blankstein,
NBC news,
17 Apr. 2026
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An eccentric poodle breeder lures a broke college student to her remote ranch with a promise of research funding.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
16 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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It cannot be maintained in such barren ground.—
David B Mcgarry,
Oc Register,
9 Apr. 2026
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Haggerty noted what the Artemis crew saw on the moon’s surface, including steep canyon walls and barren wasteland.—
Andrew J. Campa,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Poor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/poor. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.
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