Synonyms of poor

poor

adjective

ˈpu̇r 

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• impoverished
• broke
• deprived
• needy
• beggared
• indigent
• bankrupt
• impecunious
• destitute
• dirt-poor
• needful
• poverty-stricken
• penniless
• penurious
• pauperized
• famished
• necessitous
• depressed
• beggarly
• down-and-out
• hard up
• threadbare
• out of pocket
• disadvantaged
• out at elbows
• bankrupted
• skint
• underprivileged
• distressed
• ruined
• dispossessed
• down on one's luck
• unaffluent
• poorish
• reduced
• short
• insolvent
• pinched
• low
• bust
• hardscrabble
• straitened
• hand-to-mouth
• cash-strapped
• possessionless
• tapped out

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• rich
• wealthy
• affluent
• fat
• well-to-do
• opulent
• moneyed
• flush
• well-off
• comfortable
• prosperous
• fat-cat
• silk-stocking
• well-heeled
• deep-pocketed

2

as in desolate

producing inferior or only a small amount of vegetation

land that is too poor for farming

Synonyms & Similar Words

• impoverished
• desolate
• barren
• bleak
• waste
• unproductive
• bony
• infertile
• unfertile
• hardscrabble
• stark
• dry
• dead
• desert
• thirsty
• inhospitable
• lifeless
• exhausted
• reduced
• diminished
• drained
• enfeebled
• depleted
• debilitated
• consumed
• uncultivable
• untillable
• spent
• arid
• droughty
• lessened
• dehydrated
• waterless
• expended
• bankrupted
• sere
• baked
• rainless
• parched
• dried-up
• sunbaked
• used up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• rich
• productive
• fertile
• fruitful
• lush
• luxuriant
• arable
• green
• tillable
• verdant
• sylvan

3

as in scarce

less plentiful than what is normal, necessary, or desirable

a poor crop because of the drought this year

Synonyms & Similar Words

• scarce
• sparse
• meager
• lowest
• lacking
• inadequate
• skimpy
• insufficient
• scanty
• stingy
• small
• scant
• light
• sparing
• slender
• spare
• short
• exiguous
• minimal
• hand-to-mouth
• deficient
• mere
• slim
• thin on the ground
• skimp
• thin
• least
• wanting
• slightest
• littlest
• bare-bones
• unproductive
• sterile
• bare
• unfruitful
• infertile
• slight
• barren

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• adequate
• liberal
• sufficient
• generous
• abundant
• satisfactory
• plentiful
• ample
• rich
• enough
• copious
• bountiful
• tolerable
• fat
• fertile
• prolific
• fruitful
• plenteous
• lavish
• extra
• excess
• bursting
• flourishing
• luxuriant
• fecund
• thriving
• proliferative
• surplus
• teeming
• blooming
• swarming

4

as in unacceptable

falling short of a standard

a pretty poor musician, even for a garage band

Synonyms & Similar Words

• unacceptable
• wrong
• lame
• bad
• terrible
• deficient
• horrible
• awful
• pathetic
• flawed
• wretched
• disastrous
• unsatisfactory
• bastard
• suboptimal
• inferior
• crummy
• dreadful
• substandard
• lousy
• brutal
• lacking
• inadequate
• ill
• subpar
• sour
• from hunger
• wanting
• paltry
• off
• rotten
• defective
• insufficient
• dissatisfactory
• bush
• miserable
• punk
• abysmal
• wack
• useless
• short
• below par
• deplorable
• worthless
• gross
• atrocious
• bush-league
• horrendous
• shoddy
• mediocre
• lesser
• common
• damnable
• detestable
• stinky
• faulty
• unspeakable
• crappy
• execrable
• vile
• sucky
• egregious
• abominable
• meager
• bum
• low-rent
• odious
• gnarly
• low-grade
• shabby
• reprehensible
• flagrant
• miserly
• coarse
• trashy
• second-rate
• skimpy
• sleazy
• rubbishy
• cheesy
• stingy
• valueless
• scanty
• bitchin'
• junky
• villainous
• scurrilous
• spare
• mean
• cut-rate
• fake
• counterfeit
• miscreant
• sham
• phony
• skimp

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• adequate
• satisfactory
• acceptable
• decent
• standard
• fine
• excellent
• great
• respectable
• all right
• tolerable
• better
• passable
• OK
• superior
• wonderful
• perfect
• classical
• splendid
• classic
• superb
• noble
• terrific
• special
• sufficient
• prime
• divine
• marvelous
• stellar
• fabulous
• top
• exceptional
• neat
• mean
• heavenly
• choice
• first-class
• superlative
• average
• par excellence
• keen
• sensational
• dandy
• grand
• fancy
• swell
• sterling
• mediocre
• premium
• minimal
• unsurpassed
• slick
• capital
• nifty
• banner
• boss
• fair
• suitable
• useful
• middling
• high-grade
• worthy
• A1
• first-rate
• top-notch
• borderline
• groovy
• high-test
• crackerjack
• tip-top
• supernal
• satisfying
• bang-up
• unexceptional
• so-so
• jim-dandy
• gratifying

5

as in terrible

of low quality

the poor workmanship of the goods from that store

Synonyms & Similar Words

• terrible
• cheap
• inferior
• bad
• rotten
• coarse
• common
• wretched
• shoddy
• miserable
• worthless
• mediocre
• lousy
• useless
• crappy
• bum
• low-rent
• low-grade
• execrable
• trashy
• second-rate
• sleazy
• cheesy
• rubbishy
• counterfeit
• junky
• fake
• cheapjack
• lackluster
• trumpery
• cut-rate
• gimcrack
• indifferent
• schlock
• bargain-basement
• valueless
• el cheapo
• shabby
• second-class
• tawdry
• gaudy
• showy
• meretricious
• flashy
• garish
• glitzy
• ostentatious
• kitschy
• swank
• seedy
• tacky
• kitsch
• splashy
• sham
• phony
• ultracheap
• brummagem
• supercheap

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• good
• excellent
• superior
• fine
• first-class
• high-grade
• handsome
• elegant
• first-rate
• top-notch
• tasteful
• refined
• polished
• handcrafted

6

as in pitiful

deserving of one's pity

aw, the poor kitten hurt its paw

Synonyms & Similar Words

• pitiful
• pathetic
• miserable
• wretched
• sorry
• horrible
• terrible
• sad
• pitiable
• disturbing
• piteous
• impressive
• awful
• deplorable
• emotional
• heartbreaking
• lamentable
• regrettable
• rueful
• mournful
• inspiring
• heartrending
• distressing
• moving
• poignant
• affecting
• touching
• sorrowful
• stirring
• woeful
• upsetting
• grievous

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• unimpressive
• uninspiring

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of poor

Craig also criticized progressives for gambling with Democrats' chances to retake the Senate due to poor campaigning and vetting of candidates. — ABC News, 13 July 2026

The number of poor kids taking AP exams has grown eightfold since 2003, quietly raising the bar. — Jay Mathews, Washington Post, 13 July 2026

Miles away, some at the River Solstice Festival wore masks due to poor air quality caused by the fire. — Jireh Deng, Los Angeles Times, 13 July 2026

After the last Ice Age, rising seas and poor drainage helped create wetlands and peat. — Rob Crossan, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 July 2026