DISPOSSESSED Synonyms: 78 Similar and Opposite Words

dispossessed 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of dispossessed

as in deprived

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dispossessed

2 of 2

verb

past tense of dispossess

as in evicted

to end the occupancy or possession of opponents of gentrification claim that the process unfairly dispossesses poorer residents of their long-established homes

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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 dispossessed

Adjective

Conover keeps his readers waiting for too long, almost half the book, before saying anything about how the San Luis Valley came to be a magnet for the dispossessed. — Kathryn Schulz, The New Yorker, 21 Nov. 2022 Three days after his 10th birthday, his father, a depressed junkman, killed himself, and the experience of misfortune fueled the young artist’s identification with the dispossessed. — Peter Saenger, WSJ, 22 Apr. 2022 Without the voices of the dispossessed, how can there be deconstruction? — Audrey Clare Farley, The New Republic, 3 Jan. 2022

Verb

The challenge was to see how many passes each team could complete before they were dispossessed as opponents swarmed all over them. — James Pearce, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2026 He was tackled and dispossessed with the ball on a trajectory to the goal. — Monica Alba, NBC news, 24 June 2026 The family owners of Fischer Bücherei were Jews of Hungarian origin, who had been dispossessed of their publishing house by the Nazis before it was returned to them after the war. — Literary Hub, 13 May 2026 Kelsy dispossessed San Diego in its defensive third, cut back to evade a defender at the edge of the penalty area, and skipped a shot inside the near post to give the Timbers (3-5-1) a 1-0 lead in the 26th minute. — ABC News, 26 Apr. 2026 Calling his father and uncle gusanos — or worms, a Spanish-language term coined by Castro to denigrate those fleeing the island — the agent seized the bank and in an instant dispossessed a family that arrived from Spain in the 16th century. — Joshua Goodman, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2026 Calling his father and uncle gusanos — or worms, a Spanish-language term coined by Castro to denigrate those fleeing the island — the agent seized the bank and, in an instant, dispossessed a family that arrived from Spain in the 16th century. — CBS News, 22 Apr. 2026 The growth of colonial Australian society came at the expense of the Aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islander peoples, who were often dispossessed of their land, exposed to foreign diseases, and either pushed into marginal areas or forcibly assimilated into European culture. — Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 19 Mar. 2026 As Morocco’s indigenous inhabitants, El Hammoumy continued, the Berbers are like other native peoples around the world who have been systematically dispossessed of their lands and heritage for centuries. — Kevin West, Travel + Leisure, 10 Mar. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for dispossessed

Adjective

On the back of a million-pound investment in 2012, the community has organized to restore life to a deprived area hit hard by austerity.

— Kyle Vanelli, STAT, 14 Aug. 2026
Will kids living in deprived areas, without thriving industries, have fewer options?

— Harriet Marsden, TheWeek, 29 July 2026

Definition of deprived

Verb

That’s partly why the British royal family has recently tried to distance themselves from the disgraced ex-prince, to the point that he was stripped of his titles and evicted from his home at Royal Lodge.

— Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 24 Aug. 2026
The police report says Brayboy was evicted from the home 10 days earlier, but was allowed to return to care for the dogs.

— Ted Scouten, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of evicted

Adjective

Facilities would have to be on land zoned for heavy industrial use and could not be located near disadvantaged communities or populations sensitive to pollutants, such as hospitals, schools and nursing homes.

— Naomi Taxay, Sacbee.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Similarly, although benefits of smaller class sizes are real, at least for economically disadvantaged kids in early grades, uniform caps put high-poverty schools at a competitive disadvantage (because other working conditions are more difficult).

— David Griffith, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of disadvantaged

Adjective

But perhaps the most impressive thing the seemingly tireless Parton did during her 80 years was donate much of her wealth to impoverished communities.

— Donna Vickroy, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026
The loosened restrictions will not empower Washington to pursue investment and economic cooperation with al Sharaa’s government, which could transform the impoverished country.

— Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of impoverished

Adjective

While in the city, Diana met AIDS patients at a hospital in Harlem, went to the famous toy store FAO Schwarz, visited with underprivileged children, and attended a gala dinner.

— Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 21 July 2026
Funds have also been raised to send underprivileged children to different day camps, and a scholarship has been established at her theater group, Lindsey says.

— Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 4 July 2026

Definition of underprivileged

Adjective

The Hersheys chose this mission at a time when caring for orphans and children in destitute families in institutional settings was still the norm.

— Thomas Adam, The Conversation, 16 July 2026
The workers on the platform were Asian, black, Houma Indian, a few destitute Cadiens.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 July 2026

Definition of destitute

Adjective

The Dolphins, resting their talent-needy starting defense, fought with backups that will provide substandard depth this season.

— Armando Salguero OutKick, FOXNews.com, 29 Aug. 2026
The problem is there’s probably too much good film on Daniels in a QB-needy league to attempt to successfully sneak him through waivers.

— Rick Stroud, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of needy

Adjective

There are 76 million Americans in this group who are either indigent or children.

— Gary Franks, Hartford Courant, 24 Aug. 2026
All the clients of the Public Defender’s Office are indigent, Fredericksen-Aguilar said, and most cannot afford any substantial bail.

— Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of indigent

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“Dispossessed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dispossessed. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of dispossessed

adjective

verb

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