impoverish

Synonym Chooser

How is the word impoverish distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of impoverish are bankrupt, deplete, drain, and exhaust. While all these words mean "to deprive of something essential to existence or potency," impoverish suggests a deprivation of something essential to richness or productiveness.

impoverished soil

When would bankrupt be a good substitute for impoverish?

In some situations, the words bankrupt and impoverish are roughly equivalent. However, bankrupt suggests impoverishment to the point of imminent collapse.

war had bankrupted the nation of resources

When might deplete be a better fit than impoverish?

The meanings of deplete and impoverish largely overlap; however, deplete implies a reduction in number or quantity so as to endanger the ability to function.

depleting our natural resources

When can drain be used instead of impoverish?

While in some cases nearly identical to impoverish, drain implies a gradual withdrawal and ultimate deprivation of what is necessary to an existence.

personal tragedy had drained him of all spirit

In what contexts can exhaust take the place of impoverish?

The words exhaust and impoverish are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, exhaust stresses a complete emptying.

her lecture exhausted the subject

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of impoverish The current budget increases funding, but at a rate less then inflation, further impoverishing our schools. Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 20 July 2025 This is the opportunity to seek a lasting agreement that benefits both Iranians and the world, one that includes the majority of Iranians who reject a regime that steals their resources, isolates their country, and impoverishes them. Roya Boroumand, Time, 9 July 2025 Unable to feed themselves or find work at home, Hondurans seek employment in the country whose trade policies impoverished them. Chicago Tribune, 23 June 2025 The alternative — concentrating AI benefits among capital owners while leaving displaced workers impoverished—is economically counterproductive. Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes.com, 4 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for impoverish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impoverish
Verb
  • Ironically, in Cuba, a country pauperized by a Marxist model for the past 61 years, there is a growing public cry demanding change.
    Otto Reich, National Review, 8 Apr. 2020
Verb
  • Smith retiring depleted the franchise’s depth in the Eagles’ front seven.
    Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2025
  • His return comes after Za’Darius Smith’s sudden retirement announcement, which depleted the Eagles’ edge-rush room.
    The Athletic NFL Staff, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Back in January, Preston remembered filming My Best Friend’s Wedding — and how an iconic scene ruined crab and lobster for her.
    Victoria Edel, PEOPLE, 14 Oct. 2025
  • Packages of flying tortillas thrown at the wrong time, or pocket knives, would only hurt a reputation that Texas Tech has worked doggedly to change and show that the Red Raiders are at home on a national stage, and not the crazy drunk uncle ruining a holiday.
    Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The term broadly refers to working out while consuming only slightly more calories than the body needs to maintain itself, and getting those calories from healthy sources.
    Yasmin Tayag, The Atlantic, 17 Oct. 2025
  • These facilities consume vast amounts of energy, much of it to stay cool, a problem that optical links can help mitigate These facilities consume vast amounts of energy, much of it to stay cool.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Paul faces charges for the death of his friend, and her parents sue Alex for millions, threatening to bankrupt him and expose all his criminal enterprises.
    Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 13 Oct. 2025
  • The latest ones give the impression that women’s and Olympic sports are in trouble because having to pay athletes a salary is going to bankrupt their schools.
    Stewart Mandel, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Most were far from home, overworked and exhausted while receiving no pay in the midst of a prolonged government shutdown.
    Keith Wilson, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Oct. 2025
  • What looked like a shadow at first turned out to be the dog, skittish and exhausted from wandering.
    Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 17 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Now, many employers are looking to harness the power of AI—initially for mundane and repetitive tasks and eventually for more complicated jobs—to reduce the need to maintain the same level of human staffers on their payrolls.
    Jason Del Rey, Fortune, 15 Oct. 2025
  • And drivers can reduce the risk of their cars being hit.
    Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 15 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • With wine pairings, expect to spend around €120 for two people.
    Emilio Parra Doiztua, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
  • Fortune’s series, The Good Life, shows how up-and-coming leaders spend their time and money outside of work.
    Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Impoverish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impoverish. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.

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