Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
×

An Encyclopædia Britannica Company

Thesaurus

impoverishment

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of impoverishment

the state of lacking sufficient money or material possessions
  • The gradual loss of manufacturing jobs plunged the area into a level of impoverishment it had never known.
Synonyms of impoverishment

beggary, destituteness, destitution, impecuniosity, impecuniousness, indigence, necessity, need, neediness, pauperism, penuriousness, penury, poorness, poverty, want
Words Related to impoverishment

gutter, misery, woe, wretchedness

exigency

emergency

austerity, deprivation, privation

bankruptcy, insolvency
Near Antonyms of impoverishment

luxury, prosperity
Antonyms of impoverishment

affluence, opulence, richness, wealth, wealthiness

Learn More about impoverishment

  1. Spanish Central: Translation of impoverishment Nglish: Translation of impoverishment for Spanish speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up impoverishment? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

cathexis

play

investment of mental or emotional energy

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. lowlife 'a person of low moral character'

  2. kakistocracy 'government by the worst people'

  3. slimeball 'a morally repulsive or odious person'

  4. salacious 'arousing or appealing to sexual desire'

  5. oligarch 'government in which a small group exercises control'

SEE ALL

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

image236659401
Words from Letters in the Greek Alphabet

When English borrows from another alphabet

alt-5ada140ed3e28
'Preventive' or 'Preventative'?

Why not both?

alt-5ad8fc71357ed
Words We're Watching: 'Bluebeard,' the Verb

No, it's not a coiffure trend

alt-5ad8d3361fb97
Where 'Cliff-hangers' Come From

You're on the edge of your seat

Ask the Editors

image1760257654
2017 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes

How we chose 'feminism'

video-title-words-of-the-year-1066
Words of the Year: 1066

Or, Why Pig Meat is Called 'Pork' and Cow Meat is Called 'Beef'

video-literally
Literally

How to use a word that (literally) drives some people nuts.

video-his-or-her
Is Singular 'They' a Better Choice?

The awkward case of 'his or her'

Word Games

image1926873504
Odd Habits and Quirks Quiz

Test your knowledge of strange human behaviors.

Take the quiz
cats-on-impossible-timber
More Confusing Words—Quiz

How many of these commonly confused words do you know?

Take the quiz
True or False
True or False?

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.

Take the quiz
Word Winder's CrossWinder
Word Winder's CrossWinder

A game of winding words.

Play the game