IMPOVERISH Synonyms: 45 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'impoverish' distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of impoverish are bankrupt , deplete , drain , and exhaust . While all these words mean "to deprive of something essential to existence or potency," impoverish suggests a deprivation of something essential to richness or productiveness. // impoverished soil

Q: When would 'bankrupt' be a good substitute for 'impoverish'?

In some situations, the words bankrupt and impoverish are roughly equivalent. However, bankrupt suggests impoverishment to the point of imminent collapse. // war had bankrupted the nation of resources

Q: When might 'deplete' be a better fit than 'impoverish'?

The meanings of deplete and impoverish largely overlap; however, deplete implies a reduction in number or quantity so as to endanger the ability to function. // depleting our natural resources

Q: When can 'drain' be used instead of 'impoverish'?

While in some cases nearly identical to impoverish , drain implies a gradual withdrawal and ultimate deprivation of what is necessary to an existence. // personal tragedy had drained him of all spirit

Q: In what contexts can 'exhaust' take the place of 'impoverish'?

The words exhaust and impoverish are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, exhaust stresses a complete emptying. // her lecture exhausted the subject

impoverish

verb

Definition of impoverish

as in to pauperize

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Dissimilar Words

as in to deplete

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How is the word impoverish distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of impoverish are bankrupt, deplete, drain, and exhaust. While all these words mean "to deprive of something essential to existence or potency," impoverish suggests a deprivation of something essential to richness or productiveness.

impoverished soil

When would bankrupt be a good substitute for impoverish?

In some situations, the words bankrupt and impoverish are roughly equivalent. However, bankrupt suggests impoverishment to the point of imminent collapse.

war had bankrupted the nation of resources

When might deplete be a better fit than impoverish?

The meanings of deplete and impoverish largely overlap; however, deplete implies a reduction in number or quantity so as to endanger the ability to function.

depleting our natural resources

When can drain be used instead of impoverish?

While in some cases nearly identical to impoverish, drain implies a gradual withdrawal and ultimate deprivation of what is necessary to an existence.

personal tragedy had drained him of all spirit

In what contexts can exhaust take the place of impoverish?

The words exhaust and impoverish are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, exhaust stresses a complete emptying.

her lecture exhausted the subject

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of impoverish To overthrow a government that uses brutality and coercion to cling to power and whose militancy had made their country an international pariah, impoverishing its citizens. — Molly Hunter, NBC news, 30 Jan. 2026 Cinema sometimes has to know how to give in to a cause, but another thing entirely is to impoverish cinema by attributing to documentary cinema a mere and strict role of denunciation. — Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 25 Sep. 2025 Both were married at 17 years of age and struggled to build a life in a country impoverished by British colonialism. — Kalpana Jain, Christian Science Monitor, 19 Sep. 2025 The regime was isolated by sanctions and impoverished by war, and captagon became a vital source of its income and foreign currency holdings. — Vanda Felbab-Brown, Foreign Affairs, 11 Apr. 2024 See All Example Sentences for impoverish

Recent Examples of Synonyms for impoverish

Verb

Ironically, in Cuba, a country pauperized by a Marxist model for the past 61 years, there is a growing public cry demanding change.

— Otto Reich, National Review, 8 Apr. 2020

Definition of pauperize

Verb

The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget marked the occasion by noting that the retirement program’s trust fund is projected to be depleted in six years, triggering an automatic benefit reduction of about 22% under current law.

— Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 14 Aug. 2026
Speaking in the Great Hall at the DOJ headquarters in Washington, Blanche praised career employees and sought to reassure a workforce depleted by firings and resignations and bruised by courtroom setbacks and accusations of political interference.

— Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of deplete

Verb

Sometimes the very entities owning these hospitals and nursing homes are purposely bankrupting them, pillaging them of their value to maximize the owners’ profits.

— Peter Ubel, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
Tarwater has warned that the class-action lawsuit currently pending against Jackson County — with a settlement class including 200,000 homeowners — could bankrupt the county if paid out.

— Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 25 July 2026

Definition of bankrupt

Verb

The South in particular faces higher rates of obesity and other health challenges that have further reduced the pool of eligible recruits and contributed to higher injury rates during basic training, according to service data.

— Steven Beynon, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026
The historic supply shock has also been softened by other factors, including alternative export routes out of the Gulf, China reducing its oil imports, the United States increasing production and drawdowns from global oil stockpiles.

— Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of reduce

Verb

Maurice Alexander, who had some impressive moments last summer and then spent the season on the practice squad, had three catches for 42 yards and a score.

— Kevin Fishbain, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026
The statues of Kannon, the bodhisattva of compassion, spend the better part of a decade behind closed shutters.

— Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2026

Definition of spend

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“Impoverish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impoverish. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of impoverish

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