adjective
destitute
DEHS-tiht-shoot
Destitute (adjective) means Completely without money or the basic means to live; extremely poor. Example: “The flood left thousands of families destitute.”
adjective
1
Completely without money or the basic means to live; extremely poor.
"The flood left thousands of families destitute."
"He died destitute after losing his fortune in the crash."
2
Entirely lacking something needed or expected.
"The policy is destitute of any real detail."
How to use destitute
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishLeft with nothing — usually describing extreme poverty.
Common pairings
left destitute
utterly destitute
destitute of
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- destitutes
- Past tense
- destituted
- Comparative
- more destitute
- Superlative
- most destitute
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The flood left thousands of families _____.
Etymology
From Latin destitutus, past participle of destituere, "to abandon or forsake".
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for destitute
See all rhymes for 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.
