SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS
destitute
adjective
Lacking the resources needed for basic living, or completely lacking something.
Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
Lacking basic resources
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topPenniless emphasizes money; destitute suggests inability to meet basic needs.
Completely lacking
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topIn this sense destitute takes of, as in destitute of experience; it need not concern money.
CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
See destitute in use
The character begins the novel destitute and without a place to stay.
The character is destitute after losing access to the wages needed for meals, clothing, and a place to sleep.
Compare an alternative with the original word in each passage. Shared meanings do not make every pair interchangeable.
Synonym reference scope and sources
The groups distinguish the senses selected for this study entry. Closest synonyms and broader related expressions have separate labels. The listed sources support lexical selection; not every phrase is a direct quotation from a source.
How the synonym reference was prepared / WordNet 3.0 license