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
Everybody connected to the death of this poor guy is dead now.
—
Makena Gera, People.com, 12 Jan. 2025
With sleep disorders affecting approximately 70 million Americans and poor sleep linked to serious health risks like heart disease, stroke and cognitive decline, the Tone Buds represent a significant advancement in personal sleep technology.
—Kurt Knutsson, Cyberguy Report, Fox News, 12 Jan. 2025
Last year, poor air quality from wildfire smoke in Canada spread all the way to New York and many states in northeastern America, posing dangerous threats to health hundreds and thousands of miles away from the actual fire.
—Omer Awan, Forbes, 11 Jan. 2025
This fly-on-the-wall music documentary covers it all, from Cyndi Lauper's wail to Bruce Springsteen's growl to the fact that poor Huey Lewis had to follow Michael Jackson.
—Debby Wolfinsohn, EW.com, 11 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for poor 
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Makena Gera, People.com, 12 Jan. 2025
With sleep disorders affecting approximately 70 million Americans and poor sleep linked to serious health risks like heart disease, stroke and cognitive decline, the Tone Buds represent a significant advancement in personal sleep technology.
—Kurt Knutsson, Cyberguy Report, Fox News, 12 Jan. 2025
Last year, poor air quality from wildfire smoke in Canada spread all the way to New York and many states in northeastern America, posing dangerous threats to health hundreds and thousands of miles away from the actual fire.
—Omer Awan, Forbes, 11 Jan. 2025
This fly-on-the-wall music documentary covers it all, from Cyndi Lauper's wail to Bruce Springsteen's growl to the fact that poor Huey Lewis had to follow Michael Jackson.
—Debby Wolfinsohn, EW.com, 11 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for poor
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Dictionary Entries Near poor
Cite this Entry
“Poor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/poor. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.
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