Dispossessed: meaning, definitions and examples

Use 'dispossessed' when someone has been forcefully stripped of property, land, or possessions, usually through legal or violent means.

• The indigenous people were dispossessed of their lands during colonial times.
• After the war, thousands of families were dispossessed and left homeless.

Use 'deprived' when someone lacks basic necessities or something important, often through neglect or social inequality.

• Many children in developing countries are deprived of education and healthcare.
• Growing up in a deprived neighborhood can have long-lasting effects on a person's life.

Use 'excluded' when someone is intentionally left out or denied access to a group, activity, or privilege.

• She felt excluded from the conversation because no one acknowledged her presence.
• Certain communities are often excluded from political processes and decision-making.

Use 'marginalized' when someone or a group is pushed to the edge of society and given little importance or power, often due to systemic issues.

• Marginalized communities often face significant barriers to accessing quality healthcare.
• Efforts are being made to empower marginalized groups and ensure their voices are heard.

Used when referring to someone who has been forced to leave their property or has been stripped of possessions, often reflecting a sense of injustice or a significant loss.

• The refugees were dispossessed of their homes during the conflict.
• The indigenous population felt dispossessed after the land was taken from them.

Used when someone is prevented from having something they need or enjoy. This word often implies a negative action where basic needs or rights are taken away.

• The severe drought will deprive the crops of necessary water.
• Prisoners were deprived of their basic human rights.

Used when someone or something is removed of its covering, resources, or attributes, often implying force or thoroughness. This word can have a strong, sometimes negative connotation.

• The hurricane stripped the roofs off many houses along the coast.
• He was stripped of his medals after the scandal.

This is a formal or legal term used when the government takes private property for public use, usually with compensation. It often pertains to land or large assets.

• The city plans to expropriate the land to build a new highway.
• The government expropriated the farmland to construct the airport.