as in starving
not eating enough food or not eating enough healthy food; poorly nourished
The malnourished children were slowly nursed back to health.
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Recent Examples of malnourished
High-risk groups include the elderly, small children, chronically ill, especially people who have heart or blood flow problems, malnourished people, overly tired people, those taking certain prescription medicines and those under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
—
Isa Almeida, Oklahoman, 22 Jan. 2026
Cash transfers have enabled families, especially those with malnourished children and disabilities, to access essential goods such as food, hygiene items, medicine and transportation.
—Sarah Ferguson, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 2026
Due to the inability to absorb adequate nutrients, the body might become malnourished.
—Pamela Assid Woughter, Verywell Health, 9 Jan. 2026
In August, a panel of international experts on food insecurity, backed by the United Nations, declared a famine in the region, and the suffering of malnourished children made headlines.
—Michal Ruprecht, NPR, 28 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for malnourished
Isa Almeida, Oklahoman, 22 Jan. 2026
Cash transfers have enabled families, especially those with malnourished children and disabilities, to access essential goods such as food, hygiene items, medicine and transportation.
—Sarah Ferguson, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 2026
Due to the inability to absorb adequate nutrients, the body might become malnourished.
—Pamela Assid Woughter, Verywell Health, 9 Jan. 2026
In August, a panel of international experts on food insecurity, backed by the United Nations, declared a famine in the region, and the suffering of malnourished children made headlines.
—Michal Ruprecht, NPR, 28 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for malnourished
Recent Examples of Synonyms for malnourished
Adjective
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But it still cannot be used to bring aid in, and though humanitarian support has increased via crossings from Israel, such assistance remains insufficient for the territory’s undernourished population.—
Alexander Onukwue,
semafor.com,
4 Feb. 2026
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When one of these needs is undernourished, the brain generates dissatisfaction as a signal to recalibrate.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
In the simplest case, an unexpected reward (say, discovering some tasty fruit when hungry, or having someone attractive declare their love for you) causes a burst of dopamine release into a part of the basal ganglia known as the striatum—specifically, the nucleus accumbens.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 Feb. 2026
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Because many meals are calorie-controlled, some people may need to add snacks or sides to feel fully satisfied, since meals that are too low in calories or protein may leave you hungry.—
Rita Templeton,
Flow Space,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Malnourished.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/malnourished. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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