impoverish

verb

im·​pov·​er·​ish im-ˈpä-v(ə-)rish 

impoverished; impoverishing; impoverishes

transitive verb

1

: to make poor

2

: to deprive of strength, richness, or fertility by depleting or draining of something essential

impoverisher noun

impoverishment

im-ˈpä-v(ə-)rish-mənt 

noun

Choose the Right Synonym for impoverish

deplete, drain, exhaust, impoverish, bankrupt mean to deprive of something essential to existence or potency.

deplete implies a reduction in number or quantity so as to endanger the ability to function.

depleting our natural resources

drain implies a gradual withdrawal and ultimate deprivation of what is necessary to an existence.

personal tragedy had drained him of all spirit

exhaust stresses a complete emptying.

her lecture exhausted the subject

impoverish suggests a deprivation of something essential to richness or productiveness.

impoverished soil

bankrupt suggests impoverishment to the point of imminent collapse.

war had bankrupted the nation of resources

Examples of impoverish in a Sentence

The dictator enriched himself but impoverished his people.

Poor farming practices impoverished the soil.

Recent Examples on the Web

Putin has degraded political freedom, impoverished the media landscape, and forced many talented Russians into exile. —Maksim Samorukov, Foreign Affairs, 25 Apr. 2024

Businesses will best prosper on a planet that is not impoverished by a climate crisis, as well as in stable communities with lower levels of inequality, a vibrant middle class, and a respect for fundamental human rights. —Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 30 May 2024

If forced to go into inadequate prescription benefit programs, many retirees will be spending thousands of dollars each year for life saving medications, eventually impoverishing their family. —Susan McComas, Baltimore Sun, 23 Feb. 2024

Chega campaigned promising higher salaries and better conditions for workers, who the party said had been impoverished by a greedy elite. —Emma Bubola, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English enpoverisshen, from Anglo-French empoveriss-, stem of empoverir, from en- + povre poor — more at poor

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

impoverish

verb

im·​pov·​er·​ish im-ˈpäv-(ə-)rish 

1

: to make poor

2

: to use up the strength or richness of

impoverished soil

impoverishment

-mənt 

noun