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poorness

poorness

1 5.3
A state of having low quality or too little of something
  • noun
  • /ˈpʊrnəs/
translation icon : mediocridad
  • The athlete struggled with poorness in his performance during the competition, which disappointed his fans.

This isn't changing my attitude about, you know, familiarity breeds contempt, poorness rubs off.

Examples

  • The poorness of the food quality at the event led to many guests leaving early.

  • This isn't changing my attitude about, you know, familiarity breeds contempt, poorness rubs off.

  • Proust considered Millet's weakness to be "finishing in the studio... even making up altogether his paintings, which err not only in the poorness of their craft, but also in the poverty of their conception."

    Academic text (2003)
  • Her writing exhibited a poorness of ideas, making it difficult for the audience to stay engaged.

Synonyms

lack
vspoorness
1.3

Not having something you need or want

focuses more on low quality or inferiority rather than absence alone
deprivation
vspoorness
76 6.2

Not having basic things you need, like food, shelter, or sleep

is less about severe need and more about low quality or meagerness
inadequacy
vspoorness
30 5.8

A lack of enough skill, quality, or amount to meet a need

frames that lack with emphasis on low standard and inferiority
inferiority
vspoorness
17 5.1

A state of being lower than others in ability, status or value

adds sense of insufficiency and meagerness as part of low worth
paucity
vspoorness
  • Formal
7 8.6

A small amount of something that is not enough

includes poor quality or inferiority, not only scarcity of amount
insufficiency
vspoorness
1 6.5

A lack of skill, experience, or resources needed for a job

adds judgement of low quality or inferiority beyond mere shortage
thinness
vspoorness
1 4.2

Lack of strong, detailed ideas or proof in a text

expands that to mean overall insufficiency and lower quality
cheapness
vspoorness
1 3.5

A quality that makes something look showy and not stylish

is wider, covering both low taste and insufficient quality or amount
lameness
vspoorness
  • Slang
1 6.2

A weak, unconvincing argument or excuse

is more general, covering overall insufficiency and low standing rather than one defect
meagerness
vspoorness
  • US
1 7.0

A very small amount of something that is not enough

emphasizes poor quality or inferiority rather than only small amount
leanness
vspoorness
1 4.4

A small amount of something that is not enough

puts stronger weight on poor standard or inferiority alongside thin amount
crumminess
vspoorness
  • Informal
1 6.9

A poor, unpleasant quality in things like rooms or food

is broader by including insufficiency or meanness of amount as well
scarceness
vspoorness
1 7.2

A small amount of something that people need

also carries idea of low standard or inferiority beyond shortage
meagreness
vspoorness
8.1

A very small amount of something that is not enough

emphasizes low standard or inferiority as well as lack of amount
exiguity
vspoorness
  • Formal
9.9

A very small amount that is not enough

stresses low quality or inferiority beyond mere scant supply
scantness
vspoorness
7.7

A small amount of something that is not enough

adds a sense of poor quality or inferiority to that insufficiency
scantiness
vspoorness
8.8

A small amount of something that is not enough

also covers low standard or inferiority, not just amount shortage
inadequateness
vspoorness
7.6

A lack of enough quality, amount or skill for a purpose

broadens this to general insufficiency and a sense of low worth
lowness
vspoorness
4.0

A small amount or weak level of something

also implies low standard or inferiority rather than only low level

Antonyms

91 3.3

A large amount of something, more than you need

20 5.9

Enough of something for a particular purpose

How Good

excellence
150 3.2
high quality
23 2.6
mediocrity
31 6.5
poorness
1 5.3

Surface Forms

poorness singular
poornesses plural

Morphology

poorness = poor (transparent) = poor + ness

The noun is formed by adding '-ness' to the adjective 'poor', directly expressing the quality or state of being poor (in quality or quantity).

Etymology

Poorness comes from the same basic word poor and the Latin pauper meaning 'few' or 'little', and that idea of 'little' helps explain the second meaning. So poorness can also mean 'not enough' or 'low quality' when something is small in amount or weak in value.