Impoverish
Definition, Meaning & Examples
Pronunciation /ɪmˈpɒv(ə)ɹɪʃ/ · Part of speech verb
Quick meaning: Impoverish is a verb meaning (transitive) To make poor.
Meaning
(transitive) To make poor.
More Meanings
- (transitive) To weaken in quality; to deprive of some strength or richness.
- (intransitive) To become poor.
Example Sentences
That exuberant crop quickly impoverishes any fertile soil.
To many of us, organized religion is obnoxious. Yet if we throw out the sense of peace, order and joy that flows from religious ritual, we impoverish ourselves.
Word Forms
- impoverishes
- impoverishing
- impoverished
Synonyms for impoverish
Depending on context, synonyms include beggar, depauperate, depauperize, destitute, embeggar, empoverish.
Antonyms for impoverish
Common opposites include enrich.
Related Words
Related dictionary entries include deprive, weaken, deplete, impoor, poor, empoverish.
Related Dictionary Tools
Sources & Attribution
FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0
Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.