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

Other Word Forms

• impoverisher noun
• impoverishment 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

The country had a reputation as a marketplace where local middlemen paid impoverished mothers to hand over their infants.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

In May, the NBA financed a new ultramodern basketball court for a high school in an impoverished area that had been heavily affected by the genocide.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

These young men, often in their 20s, live in impoverished areas but dream of fast cars and quick money.

Read more on BBC

His extradition comes as the impoverished country between Romania and Ukraine is preparing for 28 September elections that will determine whether Moldova continues its integration with the EU, or returns to Russia's political influence.

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Its athletic department has been labeled as impoverished and directionless, with Jarmond squarely in the crosshairs of most detractors.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• bankrupt 
• deplete 
• exhaust 
• ruin