1
as in impoverished
lacking money or material possessions
many families were left destitute by the horrible fire
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in devoid
utterly lacking in something needed, wanted, or expected
a lingering drought and a sky destitute of rain clouds
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of destitute
However, families without insurance could easily be left destitute by an illness or an accident.
—
Jemma Stephenson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 May 2026
The expense almost left him destitute.
—
Nichole Marks,
CBS News,
5 Apr. 2026
Doak and the Immigration and Naturalization Service have been sharply criticized, especially by social workers who came into contact with families left destitute because their breadwinners had been deported, often for technical irregularities that were not their fault but the government’s.
—
Christine Smallwood,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Mar. 2026
None of this is to suggest that Van Der Beek was anything like destitute.
—
Benjamin Svetkey,
HollywoodReporter,
21 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for destitute
Jemma Stephenson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 May 2026
The expense almost left him destitute.
—
Nichole Marks,
CBS News,
5 Apr. 2026
Doak and the Immigration and Naturalization Service have been sharply criticized, especially by social workers who came into contact with families left destitute because their breadwinners had been deported, often for technical irregularities that were not their fault but the government’s.
—
Christine Smallwood,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Mar. 2026
None of this is to suggest that Van Der Beek was anything like destitute.
—
Benjamin Svetkey,
HollywoodReporter,
21 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for destitute
Recent Examples of Synonyms for destitute
Adjective
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This British drama series follows a woman named Emma over the course of more than six decades of her life, from the 1900s through the 1970s, working her way from impoverished maid to the world’s richest woman.
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Known as a Neglected Tropical Disease because of the lack of funding to fight it, schistosomiasis is a serious challenge for impoverished communities.
Adjective
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In a show mostly devoid of explicit messages, the sentiment surprised me.
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Players take on the role of a Ditto capable of mimicking its human trainer, and the Pokémon is thrown into a world devoid of humans.
Adjective
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Because of that, these hands suffer from high production costs, poor durability against impacts, short operational lifespans, and there are no existing solutions that engineers can readily draw upon, Wang added.
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The extreme heat can also affect people who are physically ill, especially those with heart disease or high blood pressure, or who take certain medications, such as for depression, insomnia, or poor circulation.
Adjective
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There were complaints about the car traffic and the financial cost to the broke city.
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Three years into his term, America wasn't broke, but the stock market did experience some of its biggest single-day losses during the coronavirus pandemic.
Cite this Entry
“Destitute.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/destitute. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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