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impoverish
[ im-pov-er-ish, -pov-rish ]
/ ɪmˈpɒv ər ɪʃ, -ˈpɒv rɪʃ /
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This shows grade level based on the word's complexity.
verb (used with object)
to reduce to poverty: a country impoverished by war.
to make poor in quality, productiveness, etc.; exhaust the strength or richness of: Bad farming practices impoverished the soil.
OTHER WORDS FOR impoverish
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Origin of impoverish
OTHER WORDS FROM impoverish
im·pov·er·ish·er, nounim·pov·er·ish·ment, nounWords nearby impoverish
imposure, impotence, impotent, impound, impoundment, impoverish, impoverished, impower, impracticable, impractical, imprecate
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
How to use impoverish in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for impoverish
impoverish
/ (ɪmˈpɒvərɪʃ) /
verb (tr)
to make poor or diminish the quality ofto impoverish society by cutting the grant to the arts
to deprive (soil, etc) of fertility
Derived forms of impoverish
impoverisher, nounimpoverishment, nounWord Origin for impoverish
C15: from Old French empovrir, from povre poor
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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