malnourished
adjective
mal·nour·ished
ˌmal-ˈnər-isht 
-ˈnə-risht
: supplied with less than the minimum or an unbalanced amount of the nutrients or foods essential for sound health and growth : marked by malnutrition
When it comes to certain nutrients, in fact, an estimated 80 to 90 percent of obese individuals are malnourished.—
Maria Konnikova
Maria Konnikova
especially
: undernourished sense 1
How do you help malnourished children and assure that they won't go hungry again after you leave? —Melissa Hendricks
Melissa Hendricks Patients may become malnourished from being unable to take food by mouth … —Laura Landro
Laura Landro Examples of malnourished in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The Directorate General of Health Services said unvaccinated children or those who have not completed the two-dose measles schedule face the greatest risk and that malnourished children are particularly prone to severe complications such as pneumonia and encephalitis.
—Reuters, NBC news, 2 Apr. 2026
Potential causes that were discussed included hypothermia and cardiac arrest due to his malnourished state.
—Michael Nied, PEOPLE, 31 Mar. 2026
Bernice and Gerald Byrd are set to be sentenced in June after their child, Zona Byrd, was found emaciated and malnourished in her bed.
—Jt Moodee Lockman, CBS News, 30 Mar. 2026
Wolozin said that basic childhood illnesses such as ear infections can become dangerous in Dilley because children are often sleep-deprived and malnourished.
—Caitlin Dickerson, The Atlantic, 10 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for malnourished
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Reuters, NBC news, 2 Apr. 2026
Potential causes that were discussed included hypothermia and cardiac arrest due to his malnourished state.
—Michael Nied, PEOPLE, 31 Mar. 2026
Bernice and Gerald Byrd are set to be sentenced in June after their child, Zona Byrd, was found emaciated and malnourished in her bed.
—Jt Moodee Lockman, CBS News, 30 Mar. 2026
Wolozin said that basic childhood illnesses such as ear infections can become dangerous in Dilley because children are often sleep-deprived and malnourished.
—Caitlin Dickerson, The Atlantic, 10 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for malnourished
Cite this Entry
“Malnourished.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/malnourished. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
malnourished
adjective
mal·nour·ished
(ˈ)mal-ˈnər-isht
-ˈnə-risht
: poorly nourished : undernourished
Medical Definition
malnourished
adjective
mal·nour·ished
(ˈ)mal-ˈnər-isht, -ˈnə-risht
: supplied with less than the minimum or an unbalanced amount of the nutrients or foods essential for sound health and growth : marked by malnutrition
When it comes to certain nutrients, in fact, an estimated 80 to 90 percent of obese individuals are malnourished.—Maria Konnikova
Maria Konnikova
especially
: undernourished
How do you help malnourished children and assure that they won't go hungry again after you leave? —Melissa Hendricks
Melissa Hendricks Patients may become malnourished from being unable to take food by mouth … —Laura Landro
Laura Landro Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
