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
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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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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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4
as in unacceptable
falling short of a standard
a pretty poor musician, even for a garage band
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of poor
Low temps can affect plants in different ways that usually start with slowing a plant’s growth and metabolism and can zap any leaves — think of your poor herb garden.
—
Karl Schneider, IndyStar, 23 Oct. 2025
Charles and Camilla were supposed to pay a state visit to the Vatican in early April, but the trip was postponed over Pope Francis’ poor health.
—Christopher Lamb, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2025
Speaking to Variety, Meddour said the film will follow Bellaribi, charting her upbringing within a poor family of Algerian immigrants in the underprivileged suburb of Nanterre and being abandoned by her parents after an accident that left her seriously injured.
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 23 Oct. 2025
Given that wind, gravity and air resistance all stand in the way of a bull’s-eye, the worms’ chances seem poor.
—Cody Cottier, Scientific American, 23 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for poor
Karl Schneider, IndyStar, 23 Oct. 2025
Charles and Camilla were supposed to pay a state visit to the Vatican in early April, but the trip was postponed over Pope Francis’ poor health.
—Christopher Lamb, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2025
Speaking to Variety, Meddour said the film will follow Bellaribi, charting her upbringing within a poor family of Algerian immigrants in the underprivileged suburb of Nanterre and being abandoned by her parents after an accident that left her seriously injured.
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 23 Oct. 2025
Given that wind, gravity and air resistance all stand in the way of a bull’s-eye, the worms’ chances seem poor.
—Cody Cottier, Scientific American, 23 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for poor
Recent Examples of Synonyms for poor
Adjective
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The film, which world premiered in the Berlinale’s Perspectives sidebar, follows an impoverished but determined family put to test when the father, who is suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, is accused of murder.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
23 Oct. 2025
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Sanctions have crippled the government’s primary source of revenue, oil exports, limiting the state’s ability to provide for millions of impoverished Iranians through social safety nets.—
Leila Gharagozlou,
CNN Money,
19 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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To find the killer, Sherlock Holmes and Watson will have to brave desolate moors before a family curse dooms the newest heirs.—
Meredith G. White,
AZCentral.com,
1 Oct. 2025
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With its primary tenant away, the pro stadium here in central Japan was desolate outside.—
Brad Lefton,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Few dentists remain open in Gaza, and the materials for braces are scarce.—
Ghada Abdulfattah,
The Atlantic,
21 Oct. 2025
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Public housing gets a rebrand As a nationwide housing shortage keeps affordable options scarce, an old idea is getting a new look.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
21 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Denying people the essentials necessary for their survival, to obtain compliance or a political agreement, should be unacceptable.—
Anna Halford,
Time,
25 Oct. 2025
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Controversy arose earlier this year after residents, a council member and the mayor declared a cooling station set up for homeless residents and others without adequate heating and cooling as unacceptable.—
Rebecca Noel,
Charlotte Observer,
24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Chapter narrators alternate between a homing pigeon and a soldier whose futures intersect in the most terrible of war offensives in France.—
The Know,
Denver Post,
19 Oct. 2025
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Sunday will also be Gabriel’s first NFL start in terrible weather.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
19 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The Browns have scored the second-fewest points in the NFL, ahead of only the pitiful Tennessee Titans.—
Jason Lloyd,
New York Times,
28 Sep. 2025
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On the side of the highway, Wilson cuts a pitiful, solitary figure.—
Dan Piepenbring,
Harpers Magazine,
19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Margaret Qualley, as the former A-lister's younger self, also goes for broke in a film that's a disturbing, hilarious and jaw-dropping hoot.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
21 Oct. 2025
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Businesses go broke, financial institutions fail and economic activity shrivels.—
Edward Lotterman,
Twin Cities,
19 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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An arid, barren landscape with extreme temperature swings from 45 to -40 degrees Celsius (113 to -40 degrees Fahrenheit).—
Rosanna Philpott,
CNN Money,
24 Oct. 2025
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There's a naivety and sweetness to them that's ripped away in an instant when the two passionately make love in the barren house, the inciting incident for the demise of their relationship.—
Billie Melissa,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Poor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/poor. Accessed 26 Oct. 2025.
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