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

Islamist militants have been known to operate in impoverished parts of central and south-western Mindanao.

From BBC

Somaliland's lack of international recognition has hampered access to foreign loans, aid and investment, and the territory remains deeply impoverished.

From Barron's

Its lack of international recognition has hampered access to foreign loans, aid and investment, and the region remains deeply impoverished.

From Barron's

The impoverished Central American nation of 11 million people relies heavily on the remittances sent by migrants working in the U.S.

From The Wall Street Journal

“The Worlds I See” is also a scientific autobiography, a compelling account of Li’s personal and intellectual journey from the impoverished circumstances of a Chinese immigrant family life to a wealthy and world-leading university lab.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• bankrupt
• deplete
• exhaust
• ruin