destitute

adjective

des·ti·tute ˈde-stə-ˌtüt How to pronounce destitute (audio)

-ˌt(y)üt

: lacking something needed or desirable

a lake destitute of fish

: lacking possessions and resources

especially : suffering extreme poverty

a destitute old man

destituteness noun

Did you know?

You may be surprised to learn that "destitute" is related to words like "statue," "statute," and even "statistics." The Latin word status, meaning "position" or "state," is the source of these and other English words. Some terms of this family are directly related to "status," while others come to English through "statuere," a Latin derivative of "status" that means "to set up." "Destitute" came from "destituere" ("to abandon" or "to deprive"), a joining of "statuere" and the prefix de- ("from, down, away"). "Statuere" also gave us "constitute," "institute," and "restitution," among other similar-sounding words.

Example Sentences

His business failures left him destitute. many families were left destitute by the horrible fire

Recent Examples on the Web The trauma and poverty that followed nearly left Nellie destitute, unable to pursue a career in law that her father once supported.

Samantha Laine Perfas, The Christian Science Monitor, 1 Sep. 2022 When her financially destitute father (Fleabag's Andrew Scott) attempts to marry her off to a wealthy suitor, Birdy puts up a fight, challenging her parents and the norms of the society in which she's raised.

Nigel Smith, Peoplemag, 10 Aug. 2022 Women, boys, and girls, many as young as twelve, were raped by MINUSTAH peacekeepers, some of whom left behind unacknowledged and destitute offspring.

Edwidge Danticat, The New Yorker, 5 July 2022 Today, 44 percent of Mexicans — nearly 56 million people — are destitute, according to the most recent government data available.

New York Times, 18 July 2022 At that time, resources in Europe were scarce, and people were destitute.

A.j. Baime, WSJ, 30 July 2022 An African City was part of that vanguard of media counteracting this narrative that Africa is a place that needs aid, where everyone’s destitute, or whatever.

Kathleen Anaza, Vogue, 24 July 2022 Local officials who deal directly with the unclaimed, including Meredith Buck, the coroner in Bucks County, Pa., said people who end up this way are not all destitute.

Mary Jordan, Washington Post, 2 July 2022 How much will disappear from the bank account before Manny is left destitute?

Carolyn Rosenblatt, Forbes, 15 June 2022 See More

单词	destituteness
释义	destitute adjective des·ti·tute ˈde-stə-ˌtüt -ˌt(y)üt 1 : lacking something needed or desirable a lake destitute of fish 2 : lacking possessions and resources especially : suffering extreme poverty a destitute old man destituteness noun Did you know? You may be surprised to learn that "destitute" is related to words like "statue," "statute," and even "statistics." The Latin word status, meaning "position" or "state," is the source of these and other English words. Some terms of this family are directly related to "status," while others come to English through "statuere," a Latin derivative of "status" that means "to set up." "Destitute" came from "destituere" ("to abandon" or "to deprive"), a joining of "statuere" and the prefix de- ("from, down, away"). "Statuere" also gave us "constitute," "institute," and "restitution," among other similar-sounding words. Synonyms beggared beggarly broke dirt-poor down-and-out famished hard up impecunious impoverished indigent necessitous needful needy pauperized penniless penurious poor poverty-stricken skint [chiefly British] threadbare See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences His business failures left him destitute. many families were left destitute by the horrible fire Recent Examples on the Web The trauma and poverty that followed nearly left Nellie destitute, unable to pursue a career in law that her father once supported. Samantha Laine Perfas, The Christian Science Monitor, 1 Sep. 2022 When her financially destitute father (Fleabag's Andrew Scott) attempts to marry her off to a wealthy suitor, Birdy puts up a fight, challenging her parents and the norms of the society in which she's raised. Nigel Smith, Peoplemag, 10 Aug. 2022 Women, boys, and girls, many as young as twelve, were raped by MINUSTAH peacekeepers, some of whom left behind unacknowledged and destitute offspring. Edwidge Danticat, The New Yorker, 5 July 2022 Today, 44 percent of Mexicans — nearly 56 million people — are destitute, according to the most recent government data available. New York Times, 18 July 2022 At that time, resources in Europe were scarce, and people were destitute. A.j. Baime, WSJ, 30 July 2022 An African City was part of that vanguard of media counteracting this narrative that Africa is a place that needs aid, where everyone’s destitute, or whatever. Kathleen Anaza, Vogue, 24 July 2022 Local officials who deal directly with the unclaimed, including Meredith Buck, the coroner in Bucks County, Pa., said people who end up this way are not all destitute. Mary Jordan, Washington Post, 2 July 2022 How much will disappear from the bank account before Manny is left destitute? Carolyn Rosenblatt, Forbes, 15 June 2022 See More Word History Etymology Middle English, from Latin destitutus, past participle of destituere to abandon, deprive, from de- + statuere to set up — more at statute First Known Use 14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Phrases Containing destitute the destitute the destitute Kids Definition destitute adjective des·ti·tute ˈde-stə-ˌtüt -ˌtyüt 1 : lacking something needed or desirable The room was destitute of comforts. 2 : very poor The charity helps destitute people. destituteness noun as in poverty the state of lacking sufficient money or material possessions the appalling destituteness of the people in that underdeveloped country Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance poverty misery necessity destitution neediness impoverishment need pauperism penury indigence impecuniosity beggary rainy day penuriousness impecuniousness deprivation poorness emergency bankruptcy want woe wretchedness exigency gutter insolvency privation pinching straitening austerity belt-tightening Antonyms & Near Antonyms prosperity wealth richness affluence opulence luxury wealthiness See More
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destitute

adjective

Did you know?

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Phrases Containing destitute

Kids Definition

adjective

noun