as in starving
not eating enough food or not eating enough healthy food; poorly nourished
The malnourished children were slowly nursed back to health.
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 malnourished
The dogs didn’t appear starved or malnourished, ACC officials said.
—
Rebecca White, New York Daily News, 10 May 2025
Investigators later searched the Rollins' home and allegedly found a malnourished dog there, police said.
—Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 20 Apr. 2025
This week, aid groups raised the alarm, saying that thousands of children have become malnourished and most people are barely eating one meal a day as stocks dwindle, according to the United Nations.
—Samy Magdy, Chicago Tribune, 19 Apr. 2025
Beaver rescue brings new life to animal sanctuary An elderly beaver named Agnes who was found badly injured and malnourished has become an unlikely social media sensation and financial savior for a struggling animal rescue in Indiana.
—David Begnaud, CBS News, 17 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for malnourished
Rebecca White, New York Daily News, 10 May 2025
Investigators later searched the Rollins' home and allegedly found a malnourished dog there, police said.
—Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 20 Apr. 2025
This week, aid groups raised the alarm, saying that thousands of children have become malnourished and most people are barely eating one meal a day as stocks dwindle, according to the United Nations.
—Samy Magdy, Chicago Tribune, 19 Apr. 2025
Beaver rescue brings new life to animal sanctuary An elderly beaver named Agnes who was found badly injured and malnourished has become an unlikely social media sensation and financial savior for a struggling animal rescue in Indiana.
—David Begnaud, CBS News, 17 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for malnourished
Recent Examples of Synonyms for malnourished
Adjective
-
Smith said the skin can undergo further harm, as many are often undernourished thanks to the decrease in appetite from the drugs.—
Emily Burns,
Footwear News,
7 May 2025
-
Cosmo is largely wasted in a rote cranky-but-loyal part that adds little to the undernourished whole.—
Dennis Harvey,
Variety,
29 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
No one went home hungry, and the guests mostly raved about it.—
Judith Martin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
5 June 2025
-
This coordinated reaction suggests the hungry nematodes may be joining together to easily hitch a ride on larger animals such as insects that transport them to (not so) greener pastures with more rotten fruit to feast on, Perez said.—
Kameryn Griesser,
CNN Money,
5 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Malnourished.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/malnourished. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share