To impoverish means to make someone or something poor, or to reduce the quality, richness, or strength of something. When a drought impoverishes farmland, it drains away the nutrients that help crops grow. When a company goes bankrupt, it might impoverish the workers who lose their jobs and savings.

The word works in two ways. First, it describes making people financially poor. A corrupt government might impoverish its citizens by taking their money and resources. Natural disasters can impoverish entire communities, destroying homes and businesses.

Second, it describes making anything worse by taking away what made it valuable or interesting. A teacher who only lectures might impoverish the classroom experience, removing the discussions and activities that make learning engaging. When translators remove all the jokes and wordplay from a book, they impoverish the story, leaving readers with a duller version.

The related adjective is impoverished. An impoverished neighborhood lacks resources and opportunities. An impoverished imagination has lost its creativity and spark. Notice that impoverish usually suggests something has been taken away or depleted. A person might be born into an impoverished situation, or become impoverished because of bad luck, injustice, or other circumstances.