plural beggars
1
sometimes disparaging
: someone who begs (see beg entry 1 sense 1)
especially
: a usually unhoused person who lives by asking others for money, food, etc.
2
sometimes disparaging
: a very poor person
… this system only created beggars, completely dependent on outside help …—
Darcy Ribeiro
Darcy Ribeiro
beggared; beggaring
ˈbe-gə-riŋ 
Synonyms
Examples of beggar in a Sentence
Noun
I heard you won the contest! You lucky beggar!
the pitiful beggars that are such a common sight in underdeveloped countries
Verb
Years of civil war had beggared the country.
Recent Examples on the Web
Ned Parker, Foreign Affairs, 12 Feb. 2012
All the beggars at the intersection of Lee Road and the off-ramp of I-4 are completely out of hand.
—Ticked Off, Orlando Sentinel, 18 July 2024
Charlie Campbell, TIME, 12 Apr. 2024
Ria eventually uncovers a nefarious plot that beggars even euphemistic description in a spoiler-free universe.
—Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post, 26 Apr. 2023
See all Example Sentences for beggar 
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.
Noun
The beggars, widows, and families with sick relatives who once made a pilgrimage to the gates of the parliament building in the Green Zone to beg lawmakers for help are now barred from entry.
—Ned Parker, Foreign Affairs, 12 Feb. 2012
All the beggars at the intersection of Lee Road and the off-ramp of I-4 are completely out of hand.
—Ticked Off, Orlando Sentinel, 18 July 2024
Verb
The fact that not a single senior party official numbered among her copious conspirators beggars credulity.
—Charlie Campbell, TIME, 12 Apr. 2024
Ria eventually uncovers a nefarious plot that beggars even euphemistic description in a spoiler-free universe.
—Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post, 26 Apr. 2023
See all Example Sentences for beggar
Dictionary Entries Near beggar
Cite this Entry
“Beggar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/beggar. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
beggar
2 of 2 verb
beggared; beggaring
ˈbeg-(ə-)riŋ
1
: to reduce to beggary
2
: to go beyond the ability of
the costumes almost beggar description
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share