impoverish

American  

[im-pov-er-ish, -pov-rish] / ɪmˈpɒv ər ɪʃ, -ˈpɒv rɪʃ /

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

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impoverish British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

• impoverisher noun
• impoverishment noun

Etymology

Origin of impoverish

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

Example Sentences

The outcome isn’t clear in Honduras, an impoverished nation that relies heavily on U.S.-bound migrants.

From The Wall Street Journal

The move is the latest sign that impoverished nations are joining far wealthier states in turning desperate people away.

From The Wall Street Journal

Our critic said “What the play most painfully illustrates is that for women like these—impoverished or politically oppressed—appealing options are nonexistent.”

From The Wall Street Journal

They are constricted on the one hand by construction that is transforming fields into concrete jungles, and on the other, by impoverished soils and competition from cheap food imports that undermine their revenue.

From Barron's

The commodification of reproduction may enrich clinics and lawyers, but it impoverishes humanity.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• bankrupt
• deplete
• exhaust
• ruin