impoverish

[ im-pov-er-ish, -pov-rish ]

verb (used with object)

1. to reduce to poverty:

   a country impoverished by war.

   Antonyms: enrich

2. to make poor in quality, productiveness, etc.; exhaust the strength or richness of:

   Bad farming practices impoverished the soil.

   Synonyms: cripple, fatigue, enervate, weaken, drain, deplete

   Antonyms: enrich

impoverish

/ ɪmˈpɒvərɪʃ /

verb

1. to make poor or diminish the quality of

   to impoverish society by cutting the grant to the arts

2. to deprive (soil, etc) of fertility

Derived Forms

• imˈpoverisher, noun
• imˈpoverishment, noun

Other Words From

• im·pover·ish·er noun
• im·pover·ish·ment noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of impoverish¹

1400–50; late Middle English empoverishen < Middle French empovriss- (long stem of empovrir ), equivalent to em- em- ¹ + povre poor + -iss -ish ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of impoverish¹

C15: from Old French empovrir, from povre poor

Example Sentences

“Financial abuse is perhaps the most significant factor, because women are not typically willing to impoverish their children to protect themselves. Instead, women often stay until the abuser begins attacking the children, at which point it can be very difficult to leave.”

From Salon

But if Trump wins, it will be clear that the U.S. is really moving toward an autocratic, cronyistic kleptocracy that will impoverish and weaken us as a nation.

From Salon

One bill meant to fund the departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, as well as related agencies like the Social Security Administration, would reduce their collective budget by 11%, which Democrats say will impoverish millions of Americans.

From Salon

Botswana's president Mokgweetsi Masisi told German media this would only impoverish Botswanans.

From BBC

"These illicit activities support and contribute to a global criminal network of bribery, smuggling, and money laundering that impoverish communities in Zimbabwe, southern Africa, and other parts of the world."

From BBC

Related Words

• bankrupt
• deplete
• exhaust
• ruin