undernourished

adjective

Definition of undernourishednext
as in haggard
not getting enough food or not getting enough healthy food for good health and growth undernourished children

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of undernourished Nursing mothers had to travel farther to find food, leaving many pups undernourished and leading to thousands of strandings along the California coast. — Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 2 July 2026 In undernourished individuals, the immune system may not generate sufficient or lasting protection, thereby reducing vaccine efficacy. — Michael J. Nyenhuis, Forbes.com, 7 May 2026 The center said an increasing number of gray whales are appearing undernourished and dying in the region, noting that 21 gray whales were found dead in San Francisco Bay last year. — Tim Fang, CBS News, 1 May 2026 The conflict in Iran has caused oil prices in Haiti to surge, disrupting critical supply chains, doubling transportation costs and forcing millions of undernourished people to cut back on already scarce meals. — Evens Sanon, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for undernourished
Recent Examples of Synonyms for undernourished
  1. haggard
  2. malnourished
  3. underfed
  4. thin
Adjective
  • The songs on Purdy also have the tone of journal entries, detailing haggard trips to the grocery store, daydreams about his young daughters’ glamorous adult lives, and observations about the banality of oppression.
    — Dash Lewis, Pitchfork, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Xbox, despite its increasingly haggard reputation, has announced backwards compatibility for PC.
    — Mitch Wallace, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026
Definition of haggard
Adjective
  • Commissioner Damian Pardo told WLRN the proposals come as a direct response to recent coverage of a malnourished dog found stuck on a Miami high rise balcony for several days, as well as other reports from residents of animal mistreatment.
    — Joshua Ceballos, Miami Herald, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Turtles and tortoises often arrive stressed, malnourished and dehydrated.
    — Stuart Miller, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of malnourished
Adjective
  • Parched fields force hydroponic growers, vegetable farmers and fruit producers to halt harvests, sell off underfed livestock at rock-bottom prices and even return to mechanic jobs to survive.
    — Dánica Coto, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026
  • What began as a niche repertory experiment now spans nearly 100 theaters across 73 cities and eight countries, suggesting the Cinematheque’s gleefully nihilistic concept has tapped into a seriously underfed audience.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 4 May 2026
Definition of underfed
Adjective
  • The team’s mesh consists of a grid of ultrathin ribbons of polymer with a thin conductive wire of platinum running through them.
    — Edd Gent, IEEE Spectrum, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Scientists fired terahertz radiation, a form of low-frequency invisible light, straight through the ultra-thin samples.
    — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of thin

Browse Nearby Words

underneath
undernourished
undernourishment
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Cite this Entry

“Undernourished.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/undernourished. Accessed 30 Oct. 2026.

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