impoverish — to make someone or something poor or reduce in quality
Part of speech: VERB
Definition: to make someone or something poor or reduce in quality
Pronunciation (IPA): /ɪmˈpɑːvərɪʃ/
Example Sentences
- His gambling addiction impoverished his family overnight.
- The CEO's decision to cut education funding will impoverish students' learning experience.
- Too much fast food will impoverish your taste buds and your wallet.
impoverish
VERB[/ɪmˈpɑːvərɪʃ/]
to make someone or something poor or reduce in quality
War and drought impoverish the once-prosperous farming village within a single season.
I'm Poor-ish among the rich — getting more impoverished by the minute!
Don't impoverish what could nourish and flourish
Got the picture? Now let's practice.
🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From Old French 'apoveriss-' (stem of 'apoveriss-'), derived from 'a-' (to) + 'povre' (poor), which comes from Latin 'pauper' meaning poor. The word entered English in the 15th century.
Breakdown
im- (in, into) + poor (from Latin 'pauper') + -ish (to make, cause to be) = impoverish
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“His gambling addiction impoverished his family overnight.”
“The CEO's decision to cut education funding will impoverish students' learning experience.”
“Too much fast food will impoverish your taste buds and your wallet.”
“Social media can impoverish real human connections.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related
Want to master 19,000+ words?
Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.