malnourished

[ mal-nur-isht, -nuhr- ]

adjective

1. poorly or improperly nourished; suffering from malnutrition:

   thin, malnourished victims of the famine.

malnourished

/ mælˈnʌrɪʃt /

adjective

1. undernourished

Word History and Origins

Origin of malnourished¹

First recorded in 1925–30; mal- + nourish + -ed ²

Example Sentences

Animal rescue agencies took in dozens of dogs left outside, and at least one dog owner in Houston was arrested on allegations he kept eight severely malnourished dogs outside for days during the cold streak.

From Washington Post

In 1946, the National School Lunch Program was launched because many of America’s young men had been too malnourished to serve in the military and commodity prices were dropping rapidly in the postwar economy.

From Ozy

A group of young men spoke of “malnourished socialists” and the Carter-Baker Commission on election reform.

From Washington Post

At first, I thought he had a skinny butt because he was malnourished.

From Washington Post

While Johnson could be at risk of being underweight, Richard determined, she was not malnourished.

From ProPublica

Morris searched for whatever strength was left in his malnourished body.

From The Daily Beast

“He was undernourished, not necessarily malnourished,” she said.

From The Daily Beast

These institutions are not habitable; children are malnourished and in some cases starving and emaciated.

From The Daily Beast

The doctor at the American Medical Center told us that Alex was malnourished.

From The Daily Beast

But Middleton is neither malnourished nor an Ironwoman competitor.

From The Daily Beast

Related Words

• dehydrated
• dying
• emaciated
• hungry
• undernourished