impoverished
- 01 C1 Advanced
having very little money or few possessions.
reduced to a state of poverty; lacking the financial means for a basic standard of living.
Simple“The charity works to provide clean water to impoverished villages in the region.”
In context“The documentary highlights the struggles of families living in impoverished urban districts where access to healthcare and education remains severely limited.”
UsageUsually placed before a noun to describe a community or region.
- 02 C1 Advanced
lacking something important, such as nutrients in soil or variety in a language.
depleted of essential components, qualities, or ingredients; rendered poor in substance.
Simple“Years of intensive farming left the soil impoverished and unable to grow crops.”
In context“Critics argued that the new curriculum offered an impoverished view of history by focusing only on political leaders and ignoring social movements.”
UsageOften used in environmental or academic contexts to describe a lack of depth or quality.
“Locals in impoverished areas say the insufficient government response after the earthquake speaks to a broader trend.”
“Afghanistan’s dire hunger crisis now affects 14 million people including babies fed on little more than weak tea and bread by their despairing and impoverished parents.”