undernourished

adjective

Definition of undernourishednext
as in haggard
not getting enough food or not getting enough healthy food for good health and growth undernourished children

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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 undernourished The conflict in Iran has caused oil prices in Haiti to surge, disrupting critical supply chains, doubling transportation costs and forcing millions of undernourished people to cut back on already scarce meals. — Evens Sanon, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2026 The conflict in Iran has caused oil prices in Haiti to surge, disrupting critical supply chains, doubling transportation costs and forcing millions of undernourished people to cut back on already scarce meals. — ABC News, 11 Apr. 2026 And photos and videos after the storm showed undernourished Cubans, men, women and children dressed in rags and people barely managing in makeshift homes. — David Goodhue march 16, Miami Herald, 17 Mar. 2026 The kid appeared undernourished and wearing a torn Miami Heat T-shirt. — David Dickstein, Oc Register, 11 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for undernourished
Recent Examples of Synonyms for undernourished
  1. haggard
  2. malnourished
  3. underfed
  4. thin
Adjective
  • Rocking back and forth nervously during a television appearance, a haggard-looking Diaz-Canel acknowledged the same talks, which his government had denied were taking place just days before.
    — Patrick Oppmann, CNN Money, 22 Mar. 2026
  • Wrexham, meanwhile, was near the bottom, struggling in England’s lowest division under a haggard fan-ownership group keeping it on life support.
    — Justin Birnbaum, Sportico.com, 6 Mar. 2026
Definition of haggard
Adjective
  • The malnourished children were found living in deplorable conditions in a 12-by-12-foot room.
    — WSYX Staff, Baltimore Sun, 10 July 2026
  • Several were severely malnourished and in need of immediate medical care.
    — Kelli Bender, PEOPLE, 6 July 2026
Definition of malnourished
Adjective
  • What began as a niche repertory experiment now spans nearly 100 theaters across 73 cities and eight countries, suggesting the Cinematheque’s gleefully nihilistic concept has tapped into a seriously underfed audience.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 4 May 2026
Definition of underfed
Adjective
  • It is composed of extremely thin layers of iron selenide, or FeSe, which are embedded repeatedly throughout a much larger three-dimensional crystal.
    — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 19 July 2026
  • Those areas are likely be less impressive in the thin air of the vehicle’s namesake town.
    — James Raia, Mercury News, 19 July 2026
Definition of thin

Browse Nearby Words

underneath
undernourished
undernourishment
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Cite this Entry

“Undernourished.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/undernourished. Accessed 22 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on undernourished

Nglish: Translation of undernourished for Spanish Speakers

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