as in impoverished
lacking money or material possessions
they were so impecunious that they couldn't afford to give one another even token Christmas gifts
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Recent Examples of impecunious
Since then, it has been performed across much of the world, being ideally suited to these impecunious times and very masterfully written.
—
Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2026
Cowley graduated in 1920, and for a year and a half lived an adventurous, impecunious Grub Street life in New York, before a fellowship took him, now married, back to France for a master’s in French.
—Michael Gorra, The Atlantic, 4 Nov. 2025
Lillian Feldman was born to impecunious Jewish emigres in Cincinnati on July 13, 1927, the twelfth of thirteen children who were encouraged by their mother to draw on the walls.
—News Desk, Artforum, 17 Oct. 2024
Among them is the sardonic confidant, St. Quentin; the down-at-the-heels military man, Major Brutt; and the impecunious, high-living chancer, Eddie.
—Washington Post, 18 Nov. 2021
See All Example Sentences for impecunious
Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2026
Cowley graduated in 1920, and for a year and a half lived an adventurous, impecunious Grub Street life in New York, before a fellowship took him, now married, back to France for a master’s in French.
—Michael Gorra, The Atlantic, 4 Nov. 2025
Lillian Feldman was born to impecunious Jewish emigres in Cincinnati on July 13, 1927, the twelfth of thirteen children who were encouraged by their mother to draw on the walls.
—News Desk, Artforum, 17 Oct. 2024
Among them is the sardonic confidant, St. Quentin; the down-at-the-heels military man, Major Brutt; and the impecunious, high-living chancer, Eddie.
—Washington Post, 18 Nov. 2021
See All Example Sentences for impecunious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impecunious
Adjective
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Among the Cambodians to exploit the instability was Toek Tik, a once-impoverished former Khmer Rouge foot soldier whose confessions helped investigators substantiate some of their claims against Latchford.—
Oscar Holland,
CNN Money,
17 June 2026
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And the people who got trapped behind—and who are now the impoverished mass of the remaining Cuban population—are the descendants of the slave population, or those who intermarried with the slave population.—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
17 June 2026
Adjective
-
These conditions can increase your vulnerability to adverse effects from poor air quality.—
Southern California Weather Report,
Oc Register,
16 June 2026
-
Equating the Holocaust to Gaza is in extremely poor taste.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
16 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Impecunious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impecunious. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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