1
as in poor
lacking money or material possessions
the widespread hope that the lottery's record-setting jackpot is won by an impoverished family
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in desolate
producing inferior or only a small amount of vegetation
an impoverished field that over the years had been overgrazed
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in pauperized
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in depleted
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of impoverished
Charlie Campbell, Time, 4 June 2025
Curtis’ extraordinary talent is first recognized in kindergarten, when a charitable foundation donates instruments to his impoverished public school.
—Joan Gaylord, Christian Science Monitor, 29 May 2025
The thriller follows two urbane brothers who witness a baby being kidnapped from an impoverished mother at a railway station in rural India.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 26 May 2025
And again summer approaches and one must sift through all those spoiling invitations that inevitably come rolling in when one is an indolent (and impoverished) European aristocrat — who needs to freeload off the rich and hardworking.
—James Fallon, Footwear News, 24 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for impoverished
Adjective
During campaign events, Lee, who grew up in an impoverished farming household and toiled in factories as a child, spoke from behind bullet-proof glass to crowds, which were surveyed by rooftop police snipers.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 4 June 2025
Curtis’ extraordinary talent is first recognized in kindergarten, when a charitable foundation donates instruments to his impoverished public school.
—Joan Gaylord, Christian Science Monitor, 29 May 2025
The thriller follows two urbane brothers who witness a baby being kidnapped from an impoverished mother at a railway station in rural India.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 26 May 2025
And again summer approaches and one must sift through all those spoiling invitations that inevitably come rolling in when one is an indolent (and impoverished) European aristocrat — who needs to freeload off the rich and hardworking.
—James Fallon, Footwear News, 24 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for impoverished
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impoverished
Adjective
-
Programs like food aid for poor children, health care for seniors, and subsidies for day-to-day needs are in the balance.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
5 June 2025
-
Zooming in reveals a poor level of detail, while the colors look unnaturally bright.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
5 June 2025
Adjective
-
When The Last of Us premiered back in 2023, there was massive chatter surrounding Pascal and his penchant for rescuing desolate children in TV shows.—
Stephanie Sengwe,
People.com,
25 May 2025
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See a camera operator following Snook to a desolate corner?—
CT Jones,
Rolling Stone,
21 May 2025
Verb
-
The bodies of some of the dead whales have appeared depleted and malnourished, leading some scientists to believe the problem could be a lack of food.—
Melody Petersen,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Apr. 2025
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But their pitching rotation is depleted, largely due to a few injuries, so the Cubs may look for a trade partner to help boost the pitching staff.—
Daniel R. Depetris,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Really, Song wants to know whether a sensible girl can justify shackling herself to a broke creative.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
12 June 2025
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Yet the city, which claims it is broke, spent money litigating this and even now is considering appealing this court’s common-sense ruling.—
U T Readers,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 June 2025
Adjective
-
For many of the faithful, the pilgrimage begins at a sacred mud volcano rising from the barren landscape near the Makran Coastal Highway.—
Zia ur-Rehman Asim Hafeez,
New York Times,
30 May 2025
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The festival was deliberately planned for the barren weeks in June after college students left and before the summer concert and festival season kicked in.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
25 May 2025
Verb
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And then in Joker 2, some people complained that the movie was ruined by the images on the screen and the sounds that accompanied them.—
Lexy Perez,
The Hollywood Reporter,
6 Jan. 2025
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Believing their beloved team already ruined mock drafting for the next two months, New York Giants fans probably hope for a loss against a Philadelphia Eagles team expected to rest starters Sunday.—
Jeff Howe,
The Athletic,
4 Jan. 2025
Verb
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He was hurt, he was exhausted and knew very well the odds of his Pittsburgh Penguins qualifying for the postseason were minimal at best.—
Josh Yohe,
The Athletic,
25 Mar. 2025
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Fourteen years of war have left the country desolate, and its people exhausted; millions have been displaced or were forced to become refugees.—
Raghed Waked & Justin Salhani,
The Dial,
25 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
The somewhat bleak outlook was laid bare Tuesday night after the USMNT was thrashed 4-0 by Switzerland during a friendly in Nashville.—
Ben Church,
CNN Money,
11 June 2025
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Instead of learning from this bleak recent history, Americans are now painfully absorbing this lesson by repeating it.—
Jonathan Haskel,
Foreign Affairs,
10 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Impoverished.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impoverished. Accessed 19 Jun. 2025.
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