impoverished

[ im-pov-er-isht, -pov-risht ]

adjective

1. reduced to poverty.
2. (of a country, area, etc.) having few trees, flowers, birds, wild animals, etc.
3. deprived of strength, vitality, creativeness, etc.:

   an impoverished attempt at humor.

Other Words From

• unim·pover·ished adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of impoverished¹

First recorded in 1625–35; impoverish + -ed ²

Synonym Study

See poor.

Example Sentences

In a bid to survive impoverished circumstances, miners and undocumented migrants are increasingly entering closed mines to dig up their remaining deposits.

From BBC

The residents of Piltover enjoy the privileges of life in an affluent and powerful society, one that casually oppresses the impoverished inhabitants of Zaun.

From Salon

It was billed as a mass assault on a public health crisis that was gripping an impoverished post-war Glasgow.

From BBC

Frazier, as the Washington Post documented, was impoverished and frequently homeless.

From Salon

Instead, she outlined a four-point strategy that emphasized intelligence-gathering, troop deployment, improved federal-state coordination and providing opportunities to dissuade impoverished young people from joining organized crime — which is among Mexico’s major employers.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• barren
• destitute
• distressed
• indigent
• needy
• poverty-stricken
• strapped