underfed
Given too little
Underfed means not given enough food, resulting in poor nutrition or insufficient nourishment.
The term applies to people, animals, or livestock that receive inadequate sustenance: The rescued dogs were underfed and skittish.
It can also describe someone who simply looks too thin: He had that underfed look of a struggling artist.
Lean from deprivation
- emaciatedAbnormally wasted from hunger
- skeletalOf or like bones
- sunkenDescended beneath water level
- haggardExhausted in appearance
hollow-eyed · wasted · thin · bony · drawn · pinched · scrawny · spindly
Lacking proper nutrition
- undernourishedInsufficiently nourished
- underweightBelow normal mass
- stuntedArrested in development
- deficientHaving too little
Suffering extreme hunger
- famishedIntensely, painfully hungry
- ravenousExtremely hungry, insatiable
- hungryWanting to eat
- peckishMildly hungry
growling · pangs · gnawing · unfilled · unsatisfied
Extreme nutritional deprivation
Extremely lacking in money
- destituteUtterly without means
- disadvantagedLacking social or economic resources
- underservedInsufficiently provided for
- subsistenceMinimal means of living
scarcity · hardship · deprivation · want · needy · struggling · low-income · hand-to-mouth
Lacking power or force
- frailWeak and breakable
- feebleWeak and ineffective
- debilitatedMade weak or infirm
- exhaustedUtterly depleted of energy
fatigued · listless · lethargic · enervated · sapped · drained · weakened · tired
Not given proper attention
- uncared-forLacking attention or maintenance
- abandonedLeft behind completely
- overlookedNot noticed or considered
- mistreatedHarmed through poor treatment
deprived · wanting · unattended · forsaken · disregarded · failed · forgotten
gaunt
Lean from deprivation
haggard · hollow-eyed · wasted · thin · bony · drawn · pinched · scrawny · spindly · angular
malnourished
Lacking proper nutrition
- undernourishedInsufficiently nourished
- underweightBelow normal mass
- stuntedArrested in development
deficient · wasting · anemic · rachitic · cachexia · atrophy
starving
Suffering extreme hunger
peckish · growling · pangs · gnawing · unfilled · unsatisfied
starvation
Extreme nutritional deprivation
impoverished
Extremely lacking in money
- destituteUtterly without means
- disadvantagedLacking social or economic resources
- underservedInsufficiently provided for
subsistence · scarcity · hardship · deprivation · want · needy · struggling · low-income · hand-to-mouth
weak
Lacking power or force
- frailWeak and breakable
- feebleWeak and ineffective
- debilitatedMade weak or infirm
exhausted · fatigued · listless · lethargic · enervated · sapped · drained · weakened · tired · sluggish
neglected
Not given proper attention
- uncared-forLacking attention or maintenance
- abandonedLeft behind completely
- overlookedNot noticed or considered
mistreated · deprived · wanting · unattended · forsaken · disregarded · failed · forgotten