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
Relevance
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
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 impoverished
Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY, 21 Mar. 2025
The homes are part of an ambitious five-year plan, announced in 2021, to build 50,000 additional apartments in Pyongyang, where residents’ quality of life is considerably higher than elsewhere in the impoverished country.
—Oscar Holland, CNN, 19 Mar. 2025
The first issue has become one of Johnson’s biggest political liabilities, as his emergency response to the tens of thousands of impoverished migrants arriving in Chicago from Texas left many in the Black community feeling neglected.
—Regina Garcia Cano, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2025
In 2021, a string of attacks occurred near the country’s northern border, but the violence has been largely contained after Ivorian authorities, Western governments and aid groups rushed into this impoverished and isolated part of the country with military build up and development projects.
—Monika Pronczuk and Misper Apawu, Los Angeles Times, 16 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for impoverished
Adjective
With the dwarfs and bandits by her side, Snow White vows to reclaim her parents’ home and restore peace to her impoverished kingdom.
—Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY, 21 Mar. 2025
The homes are part of an ambitious five-year plan, announced in 2021, to build 50,000 additional apartments in Pyongyang, where residents’ quality of life is considerably higher than elsewhere in the impoverished country.
—Oscar Holland, CNN, 19 Mar. 2025
The first issue has become one of Johnson’s biggest political liabilities, as his emergency response to the tens of thousands of impoverished migrants arriving in Chicago from Texas left many in the Black community feeling neglected.
—Regina Garcia Cano, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2025
In 2021, a string of attacks occurred near the country’s northern border, but the violence has been largely contained after Ivorian authorities, Western governments and aid groups rushed into this impoverished and isolated part of the country with military build up and development projects.
—Monika Pronczuk and Misper Apawu, Los Angeles Times, 16 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for impoverished
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impoverished
Adjective
-
There’s a real debate to be had about what responsibility better-off neighborhoods like Hyde Park have to help solve humanitarian problems that often are laid at the feet of poorer areas.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Apr. 2025
-
The strong United cohort, almost entirely comprised of dominant sides under Ferguson, has not shied away from criticising the club, players and managers when results have been poor.—
Elias Burke,
New York Times,
5 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
That quality is maintained first and foremost by a desolate whistling-wind sound effect in the background of all the scenes, along with a sustained droning musical score.—
Ben Coxworth,
New Atlas,
14 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
The move was a big one for the Red Sox pitching staff, but left Boston's catching pipeline depleted.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
4 Jan. 2025
-
Social Security trust fund depletion dates get closer In 2024, the Social Security trustees projected the trust fund the program relies on to help pay retirement benefits may be depleted in 2033.—
Lorie Konish,
CNBC,
4 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
The match-up broke ratings records, with nearly 128 million viewers tuning in, according to Nielsen.—
Judy Kurtz,
The Hill,
26 Mar. 2025
-
Fake Wedding follows two broke singles who throw a fake wedding to cash in on the registry and the very real problems the make-believe couple encounters.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
17 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Charlie Parker’s Favorite Painting (1946) indicates Abercrombie’s engagement with social issues: a yellow noose, nearly fluorescent against a dishwater sky, dangles from a barren tree—an oblique lament from the doggedly antiracist Abercrombie.—
Jeremy Lybarger,
ARTnews.com,
26 Mar. 2025
-
Meanwhile, the patch of skin to the ’22 trophy’s left looks almost barren.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
25 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
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
-
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
-
Frankly, Angelina is exhausted, but she is relieved this one part is over.—
George Monastiriakos,
Newsweek,
31 Dec. 2024
-
Rows of tables are filled with revelers, exhausted from the hot walk through town and digging into bean, chicken, and carnitas tacos.—
Whitney Eulich,
The Christian Science Monitor,
30 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
The coming-of-age story finds a new generation of young women in Gilead, grappling with the bleak future that awaits them.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
1 Apr. 2025
-
Stocks had sold off sharply last Friday, amid growing uncertainty on U.S. trade policy and a bleak inflation outlook.—
Amala Balakrishner,
CNBC,
30 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Impoverished.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impoverished. Accessed 13 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share