ill-fed

Thân thiện

The ill-fed puppy eagerly ate the bowl of food.

Definition

1. Adjective: Not receiving adequate or sufficient food; undernourished or underfed.

Usage

• The word "ill-fed" is used to describe a person or animal whose diet is insufficient in quantity or quality, leading to poor health or a thin, weak appearance.
• It is a compound adjective formed from "ill-" (meaning badly or poorly) and "fed" (the past participle of "to feed").
• It is typically used in more formal or descriptive writing, such as reports, literature, or historical accounts.

Examples

• The charity's mission was to provide for the ill-fed population in the drought-stricken region.
• Historical records describe the ill-fed soldiers struggling through the harsh winter.
• An ill-fed animal often lacks the energy for normal activity.

Advanced Usage

• "Ill-fed and ill-clad": A classic literary pairing used to describe someone who is both poorly nourished and poorly clothed, emphasizing overall deprivation.
  • The novel's protagonist grew up ill-fed and ill-clad, which fueled his ambition.

Variants and Related Words

• Underfed (adj): A more common synonym meaning not given enough food.
• Undernourished (adj): Specifically emphasizes a lack of proper nutrients necessary for health and growth.
• Malnourished (adj): A stronger, more clinical term for suffering from poor nutrition due to an insufficient or unbalanced diet.
• Starving (adj): Suffering or dying from extreme lack of food.

Synonyms

• Underfed
• Undernourished
• Malnourished
• Half-starved
• Gaunt (often a result of being ill-fed)

Antonyms

• Well-fed
• Nourished
• Healthy
• Plump
• Stout

Học thuật

Adjective

1. not getting adequate food
   • gaunt underfed children
   • badly undernourished

Từ đồng nghĩa

• underfed
• undernourished