Meaning of poor in English

Table of contents
  1. Pronunciation
  2. Classifying Adjective
    1. Definitions
  3. Qualitative Adjective
    1. Etymology
    2. Definitions

  1. Pronunciation

    /pʊr/

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  1. Classifying Adjective

    poor

    Definitions

    1. moderate to inferior in quality

    Examples

    • « they improved the quality from mediocre to above average »
    • « he would make a poor spy »

    Synonyms

  2. 2. deserving or inciting pity

    Examples

    • « a hapless victim »
    • « miserable victims of war »
    • « the shabby room struck her as extraordinarily pathetic- Galsworthy »
    • « piteous appeals for help »
    • « pitiable homeless children »
    • « a pitiful fate »
    • « Oh, you poor thing »
    • « his poor d »

    Synonyms

  3. 3. low in degree

    Examples

    • « expectations were poor »

    Synonyms

  4. 4. not sufficient to meet a need

    Examples

    • « an inadequate income »
    • « a poor salary »
    • « money is short »
    • « on short rations »
    • « food is in short supply »
    • « short on experience »

    Synonyms

  5. 5. unsatisfactory

    Examples

    • « a poor light for reading »
    • « poor morale »

    Synonyms

  6. 6. yielding little by great labor

    Examples

    • « a hardscrabble farm »
    • « poor soil »

    Synonyms

  7. Qualitative Adjective

    poor

    Etymology

    Middle English: from Old French poure, from Latin pauper

    Definitions

    1. having little money or few possessions

    Examples

    • « deplored the gap between rich and poor countries »
    • « the proverbial poor artist living in a garret »

    Synonyms

    Antonyms

  8. 2. characterized by or indicating lack of money

    Examples

    • « the country had a poor economy »

    Synonyms

    Antonyms

  9. 3. badly supplied with desirable qualities or substances

    Examples

    • « a poor land »
    • « the area was poor in timber and coal »
    • « food poor in nutritive value »

    Synonyms

    Antonyms

Famous quotes

  • « If to do were as easy as to know what were good to do, chapels had been churches, and poor men's cottage princes' palaces. »
    William Shakespeare
  • « The fellow that has no money is poor. The fellow that has nothing but money is poorer still. »
    Billy Sunday
  • « I met in the street a very poor young man who was in love. His hat was old, his coat worn, his cloak was out at the elbows, the water passed through his shoes, - and the stars through his soul. »
    Victor Hugo
  • « I've always taught that a poor economy is the best opportunity for salespeople because the naysayers and grumblers have already given up, leaving more territory, more opportunities to be successful than in a good economy when virtually all salespeople are out there, giving it their best. »
    Zig Ziglar
  • « As kids we didn't complain about being poor we talked about how rich we were going to be and made moves to get the lifestyle we aspired to by any means we could. And as soon as we had a little money, we were eager to show it. »
    Jay-Z

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