destitute

[des-ti-toot, -tyoot] / ˈdɛs tɪˌtut, -ˌtyut /

ADJECTIVE

down and out; wanting

Synonyms

STRONGEST

bankrupt exhausted impoverished indigent insolvent needy penniless poor poverty-stricken strapped

WEAK

beggared bereft busted dead broke deficient depleted deprived of devoid of dirt poor divested drained empty flat flat broke impecunious in need of lacking moneyless necessitous on the breadline on the rocks penurious pinched played-out stony stripped totaled wiped-out without

Antonyms

STRONGEST

affluent rich solvent wealthy

WEAK

lucky prosperous secure

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

My father, 75, is essentially destitute and in failing health.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 4, 2026

The Dominican nuns who run the kitchen prepare food for about 80 elderly or destitute people -- growing numbers of Cubans are forced to rummage through garbage bins for food -- each day.

From Barron's • Feb. 11, 2026

Put it all together, and the modern Dodgers have found a way to make the Evil Empire Yankees look downright destitute.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 16, 2026

The UK is legally-bound to find homes for asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute while they wait for a decision to be made on their asylum claim.

From BBC • Aug. 23, 2025

It hardly seemed worth taking the chance that their families could end up utterly destitute.

From "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind" by Yuval Noah Harari

destitute

Example Sentences

Related Words