dirt-poor

adjective

ˈdərt-ˈpu̇r How to pronounce dirt-poor (audio)
Synonyms of dirt-poornext
: suffering extreme poverty

Synonyms of dirt-poor

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Examples of dirt-poor in a Sentence

growing up dirt-poor in the rural South
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Think of him as a dirt-poor man’s Brett Favre. — Vic Tafur, New York Times, 23 Jan. 2026 The company was born from the will of a man who grew up dirt-poor in Baltimore, flunked fifth grade, served in Vietnam and became a billionaire. — Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 Jan. 2026 But the Shoutin’, Rick Bragg’s first family memoir about growing up dirt-poor in Alabama. — Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2025 Shot in a single take, Night Shift tells the story of a desperate and dirt-poor Khun (played by Chatchai), who decides to pack things up to have a better life in the city. — Sara Merican, Deadline, 31 Oct. 2024 See All Example Sentences for dirt-poor

Word History

First Known Use

1937, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of dirt-poor was in 1937

Rhymes for dirt-poor

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Browse Nearby Words

dirtplate
dirt-poor
dirt road
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Cite this Entry

“Dirt-poor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dirt-poor. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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