as in impoverished
lacking money or material possessions
they were so impecunious that they couldn't afford to give one another even token Christmas gifts
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Recent Examples of impecunious
Cowley graduated in 1920, and for a year and a half lived an adventurous, impecunious Grub Street life in New York, before a fellowship took him, now married, back to France for a master’s in French.
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Michael Gorra, The Atlantic, 4 Nov. 2025
Lillian Feldman was born to impecunious Jewish emigres in Cincinnati on July 13, 1927, the twelfth of thirteen children who were encouraged by their mother to draw on the walls.
—News Desk, Artforum, 17 Oct. 2024
Among them is the sardonic confidant, St. Quentin; the down-at-the-heels military man, Major Brutt; and the impecunious, high-living chancer, Eddie.
—Washington Post, 18 Nov. 2021
See All Example Sentences for impecunious
Michael Gorra, The Atlantic, 4 Nov. 2025
Lillian Feldman was born to impecunious Jewish emigres in Cincinnati on July 13, 1927, the twelfth of thirteen children who were encouraged by their mother to draw on the walls.
—News Desk, Artforum, 17 Oct. 2024
Among them is the sardonic confidant, St. Quentin; the down-at-the-heels military man, Major Brutt; and the impecunious, high-living chancer, Eddie.
—Washington Post, 18 Nov. 2021
See All Example Sentences for impecunious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impecunious
Adjective
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Critics call it a venue for the world’s elites to hobnob and do business that sometimes comes at the expense of workers, the impoverished or people on the margins of society.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Jan. 2026
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Almost every child who goes into foster care is impoverished and almost all leave foster care broke.—
Joseph Shapiro,
NPR,
12 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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According to Jabra’s research, 99% of knowledge workers say poor audio quality impacts their online meetings and call quality.—
Mark Sparrow,
Forbes.com,
21 Jan. 2026
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While the pandemic hit everyone all at once, the recovery from that jolt has taken place on two diverging tracks, with the well-off getting wealthier and the poor getting poorer.—
Allison Morrow,
CNN Money,
21 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Impecunious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impecunious. Accessed 22 Jan. 2026.
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