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Definition of undernourished

undernourished

/ˌʌn.dɚˈnɝː.ɪʃt/
un · der · nour · ished
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undernourished Lexical Profile

undernourished Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Having insufficient food or other substances necessary for good health and growth.

Example

"The veterinary clinic rescued several undernourished puppies and placed them on a carefully monitored diet."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for undernourished
Antonyms
View all antonyms for undernourished

Word Nuance & Usage

"Undernourished" specifically indicates an insufficient intake of food or calories, whereas "malnourished" refers more broadly to poor nutrition caused by an imbalanced diet (which can include consuming enough or even excess calories lacking essential nutrients).

• Rhymes for undernourished

• Nearby Words

underminer
underneath
undernourish
undernourished
undernourishment
undernutrition
underoccupied

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Undernourished. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/undernourished
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