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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in unacceptable
falling short of a standard
a pretty poor musician, even for a garage band
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in terrible
of low quality
the poor workmanship of the goods from that store
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in pitiful
deserving of one's pity
aw, the poor kitten hurt its paw
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Try This Instead
Try This InsteadFor
Try This
poor quality
a poor judgment
an unwise judgment
a lousy judgment
a questionable judgment
a horrible judgment
an improper judgment
a poor performance
a weak performance
an unacceptable performance
a negative performance
an inadequate performance
a horrendous performance
a poor condition
a deteriorated condition
a shabby condition
a sub-par condition
a shoddy condition
a pitiful condition
poor nutrition
unbalanced nutrition
improper nutrition
deficient nutrition
unhealthy nutrition
insufficient nutrition
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of poor
For example, when a company pivots, a poor communicator’s vague memo creates fear.
—
Lori Huss, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025
Due to poor cell reception in the area, 911 calls kept dropping as witnesses scrambled to reach first responders.
—Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 17 June 2025
In past decades, this stage was easy to spot: clashing colors, poor makeup attempts, and wardrobes inspired by favorite TV stars.
—Dia Gallo, Parents, 17 June 2025
But a large new study found that a father’s poor mental health also could harm his kids’ development.
—Daniel Wine, CNN Money, 16 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for poor
Lori Huss, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025
Due to poor cell reception in the area, 911 calls kept dropping as witnesses scrambled to reach first responders.
—Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 17 June 2025
In past decades, this stage was easy to spot: clashing colors, poor makeup attempts, and wardrobes inspired by favorite TV stars.
—Dia Gallo, Parents, 17 June 2025
But a large new study found that a father’s poor mental health also could harm his kids’ development.
—Daniel Wine, CNN Money, 16 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for poor
Recent Examples of Synonyms for poor
Adjective
-
In Zimbabwe, the Catholic Church operates about 100 schools, ranging from dozens in impoverished areas where annual tuition is as low as $150 to elite boarding schools that can charge thousands of dollars.—
Rodney Muhumuza,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2025
-
Some government functions were eviscerated, such as the U.S. Agency for International Development, which had provided a lifeline for impoverished people around the world.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
31 May 2025
Adjective
-
Construction sites and other workplaces have been desolate.—
Nicole Acevedo,
NBC news,
15 June 2025
-
Her 12-day flight included crossing the rugged Ural Mountains and desolate Siberian wastes, while navigating with only a map and compass.—
Robb Report Studio,
Robb Report,
6 June 2025
Adjective
-
High-Potential, Untapped Markets I’m inspired by what others ignore—those quiet gaps where attention is scarce but potential is high, like a niche market with growing demand but little innovation.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2025
-
Aside from mining for lunar water, these efforts might involve the extraction of an isotope called helium-3, which is scarce on Earth but is in relatively large abundance on the moon.—
Julian Dossett,
Space.com,
12 June 2025
Adjective
-
In April 2021, the European Commission proposed a draft of the Artificial Intelligence Act, aimed at introducing a system of AI classification based on risks to users (minimal, limited, high, unacceptable).—
Olena Orliuk,
Forbes.com,
17 June 2025
-
Republicans have said the level of tax increases and additional funding measures in the budget is unacceptable.—
Olivia Olander,
Chicago Tribune,
16 June 2025
Adjective
-
And these are the same Oilers who, after a terrible 6-1 loss in Game 3 to the Panthers, overcame a three-goal deficit in Game 4 to even the series.—
Daniel Nugent-Bowman,
New York Times,
15 June 2025
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Outside of getting to play a grand slam event in his backyard, Thomas has been downright terrible in the sport's four biggest tournaments.—
Gerrit Ritt,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 June 2025
Adjective
-
For example, the 1890s saw the Royal Observatory hire women for the first time, who worked for a pitiful wage as 'computers' to examine and refine observational data.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
22 June 2025
-
There is nothing deficient, unnatural or pitiful about being single, as we’re often led to believe.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2025
Adjective
-
Really, Song wants to know whether a sensible girl can justify shackling herself to a broke creative.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
12 June 2025
-
Yet the city, which claims it is broke, spent money litigating this and even now is considering appealing this court’s common-sense ruling.—
U T Readers,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 June 2025
Adjective
-
Richards’ finish saved the U.S. in what was otherwise a listless appearance in front of a barren home crowd at Austin FC’s Q2 Stadium.—
Paul Tenorio,
New York Times,
20 June 2025
-
Transatlantic flights from northern Europe — London, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Copenhagen — routinely cross the southern half of the island, the bright, barren ice sheet often visible for up to an hour of cruising speed.—
Morten Høi Jensen,
The Dial,
19 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Poor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/poor. Accessed 26 Jun. 2025.
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