1
a
: lacking material possessions
b
: of, relating to, or characterized by poverty
2
a
: less than adequate : meager
b
: small in worth
3
: exciting pity
you poor thing
4
6
: barren, unproductive
—used of land
7
8
: lacking a normal or adequate supply of something specified
—often used in combination
oil-poor countries
poorness
noun
Synonyms
Examples of poor in a Sentence
We were too poor to buy new clothes.
The organization helps poor families.
She has a poor vocabulary.
It was a poor attempt at a joke.
He is in poor condition.
She couldn't read the sign because her vision was too poor.
Recent Examples on the Web
Delon had been battling poor health in recent years and suffered a stroke in 2019.
—
Jack Guy, CNN, 18 Aug. 2024
Shaped by volcanoes, battered by storms, and conditioned by vast distances, the archipelago contains the westernmost point in the European Union and also some of its poorest communities.
—Philip Sherburne, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Aug. 2024
The Arkansas Medical Society condemned this school for its lax standards and poor training in 1904, and Decker was later indicted for fraud in Texas.
—arkansasonline.com, 17 Aug. 2024
Together with his wife, Siri, Olav expanded the garden and added a restaurant, overcoming significant challenges such as poor infrastructure and the logistical difficulties of operating on an island.
—David Nikel, Forbes, 17 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for poor 
Jack Guy, CNN, 18 Aug. 2024
Shaped by volcanoes, battered by storms, and conditioned by vast distances, the archipelago contains the westernmost point in the European Union and also some of its poorest communities.
—Philip Sherburne, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Aug. 2024
The Arkansas Medical Society condemned this school for its lax standards and poor training in 1904, and Decker was later indicted for fraud in Texas.
—arkansasonline.com, 17 Aug. 2024
Together with his wife, Siri, Olav expanded the garden and added a restaurant, overcoming significant challenges such as poor infrastructure and the logistical difficulties of operating on an island.
—David Nikel, Forbes, 17 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for poor
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'poor.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Poor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/poor. Accessed 3 Sep. 2024.
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