verb
impoverish
Impoverish (verb) means to make someone poor.
verb
1
To make someone poor.
2
To make something weaker or less rich in quality.
"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."
— Nancy Walker, The Reaffirmation of Life (1979)
3
To grow poor.
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Etymology
Came from Middle English empoverishen, impoverishen, empoverischen and enpoverisshen, and from Anglo-Norman empoveriss-, developed from Old French empoverir, formed from em- + povre, from Latin pauper ("poor") (compare English poor).
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for impoverish
See all rhymes for impoverish →Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of impoverish?
"impoverish" (verb) means to make someone poor.
What is another word for impoverish?
Other words for "impoverish" include ruin, deprive, deplete.
What is the opposite of impoverish?
The opposite of "impoverish" is enrich.
What are the different meanings of impoverish?
"impoverish" has 3 main meanings: 1. To make someone poor; 2. To make something weaker or less rich in quality; 3. To grow poor.
