destitute
8 synonyms and 2 antonyms for destitute, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adjective — Completely without money or the basic means to live; extremely poor.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use destitute
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
left destitute
utterly destitute
destitute of
Etymology
From Latin destitutus, past participle of destituere, "to abandon or forsake".
Full origin of destitute →Frequently asked questions
What does “destitute” mean?
The word “destitute” means completely without money or the basic means to live; extremely poor. In plain terms, left with nothing — usually describing extreme poverty.
How do you pronounce “destitute”?
“Destitute” is pronounced DEHS-tiht-shoot (/ˈdɛstɪtuːt/ in IPA).
How do you use “destitute” in a sentence?
Here is “destitute” used in a sentence: “The flood left thousands of families destitute.”
What part of speech is “destitute”?
“Destitute” is an adjective.
Where does the word “destitute” come from?
The word “destitute” comes from Latin. From Latin destitutus, past participle of destituere, "to abandon or forsake".
How many meanings does “destitute” have?
“Destitute” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: completely without money or the basic means to live; extremely poor.
