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

"They were good and solid people... We encouraged and supported each other for about 50 years. My life is greatly impoverished without them."

From BBC

Previous reports from UC Riverside have called the area one of the most impoverished and environmentally deteriorated regions in California.

From Los Angeles Times

“Now Palestinians are more impoverished than ever. All the factions did was destroy the economic infrastructure in Yarmouk,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times

Later, at the freezing cold abode of one of the leaders of the strike, the impoverished scene takes on unmistakable Dickensian notes.

From Los Angeles Times

To say that this is an impoverished version of what this country’s mission should be is putting it mildly.

From Salon

Related Words

• bankrupt 
• deplete 
• exhaust 
• ruin