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Definitions

poor

[poor] / pʊər /
ADJECTIVE
lacking sufficient money
Synonyms
STRONGEST
destitute impoverished indigent low meager needy penniless poverty-stricken underprivileged
STRONG
bankrupt down-and-out flat insolvent scanty suffering
WEAK
bad off beggared beggarly behind the eight ball broke dirt poor empty-handed flat broke fortuneless hard up impecunious in need in want moneyless necessitous pauperized penurious pinched reduced stone broke strapped truly needy unprosperous
Antonyms
STRONGEST
affluent prosperous rich wealthy well-to-do
STRONG
comfortable fortunate solvent
ADJECTIVE
deficient, inadequate
Synonyms
STRONGEST
feeble inferior insufficient meager mediocre miserable modest ordinary shoddy substandard unsatisfactory weak
STRONG
common crude diminutive imperfect mean plain scanty slight subnormal trifling
WEAK
below par dwarfed exiguous faulty humble incomplete insignificant lacking low-grade lowly paltry pitiable pitiful reduced rotten second-rate shabby skimpy sorry sparse subpar trivial valueless worthless
Antonyms
STRONGEST
able adequate extraordinary strong sufficient superior
STRONG
excellent uncommon
WEAK
great
ADJECTIVE
weak, unfertile
Synonyms
STRONGEST
feeble impaired impoverished
STRONG
barren imperfect sick
WEAK
bare depleted exhausted fruitless indisposed infertile infirm puny sterile unfruitful unproductive worthless
Antonyms
STRONGEST
healthy strong
WEAK
adequate fertile potent rich superior
ADJECTIVE
unfortunate, unhappy
Synonyms
STRONGEST
miserable wretched
WEAK
commiserable hapless ill-fated luckless pathetic piteous pitiable pitiful rueful unlucky
Antonyms
WEAK
happy lucky

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Cook has weathered a lot of challenges after more than a decade as chief executive, including complaints about poor labor conditions at Chinese factories where workers make Apple products.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 22, 2026

U.S. soccer fans are outraged by FIFA’s ticket sale system that included high prices and poor seat locations that were revealed after the purchases were completed.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 21, 2026

"LIVE Kettering makes a difference to the community because Kettering is quite a poor town and there isn't a lot of money around, so a lot of people, struggle financially," Denise added.

From BBC • Apr. 21, 2026

In the 1980s, "we were told that free trade and globalisation were the most fantastic things, and in Brazil we were rather against them," owing to poor competitiveness, Lula said.

From Barron's • Apr. 21, 2026

A poor wee mess he was with a sore on his mouth and a scratch on his cheek from chasing Biddy the hen.

From "Nory Ryan’s Song" by Patricia Reilly Giff