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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in desolate
producing inferior or only a small amount of vegetation
land that is too poor for farming
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in unacceptable
falling short of a standard
a pretty poor musician, even for a garage band
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in terrible
of low quality
the poor workmanship of the goods from that store
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6
as in pitiful
deserving of one's pity
aw, the poor kitten hurt its paw
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of poor
Using cold water and a poor-quality dish soap to wash dishes is ineffective.
—
Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 17 Feb. 2026
Even mild dehydration can lead to headaches, dry skin, dizziness, lower alertness, poor attention, irritability, and fatigue.
—Merve Ceylan, Health, 17 Feb. 2026
Overflowing poor drainage areas.
—Bay Area Weather Report, Mercury News, 17 Feb. 2026
Seventy percent of all poor children live in a house headed by a woman.
—Adam Harrington, CBS News, 17 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for poor
Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 17 Feb. 2026
Even mild dehydration can lead to headaches, dry skin, dizziness, lower alertness, poor attention, irritability, and fatigue.
—Merve Ceylan, Health, 17 Feb. 2026
Overflowing poor drainage areas.
—Bay Area Weather Report, Mercury News, 17 Feb. 2026
Seventy percent of all poor children live in a house headed by a woman.
—Adam Harrington, CBS News, 17 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for poor
Recent Examples of Synonyms for poor
Adjective
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This village near the Swiss border has had sales tax exemptions since medieval times, which allowed the impoverished, cut-off area to bring in goods.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
18 Feb. 2026
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An education advocate, Jackson founded the PUSH/Excel program to motivate Black and impoverished students to achieve excellence through schooling.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
17 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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While Scarry’s books present such catastrophes with bright colors and good humor, Gomez undermines this cheer by superimposing on the mural a nearly all-black painting of a desolate tent encampment in front of a home destroyed by the Eaton fire.—
Sharon Mizota,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Feb. 2026
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The clash of beauty and filth is well suited for Brontë’s desolate tale of romance in a tempestuous climate, where Cathy is constantly caught between Victorian propriety and her baser, wilder nature.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Are dinner reservations more scarce and more expensive?—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
15 Feb. 2026
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Details are scarce as to what prompted the officer to fire.—
Devoun Cetoute,
Miami Herald,
14 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The behavior's unacceptable, and so this is our way to try to end it or stop it, at least here in Manteca.—
Charlie Lapastora,
CBS News,
18 Feb. 2026
-
That is completely unacceptable.—
Howard Blume,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The question was about the student section’s harassment of former Spartan Xavier Booker, which seemed like a legitimate query considering Booker had a terrible game.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Feb. 2026
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The move was expected because Hill, who played for the Chiefs from 2016-‘21 before being traded to the Dolphins, is recovering from a terrible knee injury.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Gallup reached only 50,000 people, a pitiful fraction of The Literary Digest’s awe-inspiring mailbag.—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
21 Feb. 2026
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Mercy came via a bye week, the pitiful Raiders and an inept Cowboys defense.—
Tom Krasovic,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Becket is broke, disowned and circling a family fortune that never wanted him.—
Ana Gutierrez,
Austin American Statesman,
18 Feb. 2026
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Scrounging for any kind of role in 60s New York, chasing girls, lending money to whichever of them was the most broke, Gene Hackman, Dustin Hoffman, and Robert Duvall shared the risks, the rejections, and a fascination with the human drama.—
Chris Nashawaty,
Vanity Fair,
16 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Melbourne, Australia — An ungainly barrel of a shark cruising languidly over a barren seabed far too deep for the sun's rays to illuminate was an unexpected sight.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
18 Feb. 2026
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The park benches are bare, the outdoor cafe tables barren.—
Nora Krug,
Washington Post,
15 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Poor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/poor. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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