penniless

[ pen-i-lis ]

adjective

1. without any money whatsoever; totally impoverished; destitute.

   Synonyms: indigent

   Antonyms: rich

penniless

/ ˈpɛnɪlɪs /

adjective

1. very poor; almost totally without money

Derived Forms

• ˈpennilessness, noun
• ˈpennilessly, adverb

Other Words From

• penni·less·ly adverb
• penni·less·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of penniless¹

First recorded in 1275–1325, penniless is from the Middle English word peniles. See penny, -less

Synonym Study

See poor.

Example Sentences

When she died, the girls were passed on to that woman’s heirs, who mishandled their careers and left them nearly penniless.

From Washington Blade

He was born in a barn to penniless parents who were part of a people under occupation.

From The Daily Beast

The rocker posted a rambling video on his Facebook page claiming he's broke and penniless.

From The Daily Beast

Lemkin died penniless at a bus stop in 1959, on his way to another day lobbying at the United Nations.

From The Daily Beast

The penniless Pieret announced his intentions of stealing more art from the woefully guarded Louvre to make more money.

From The Daily Beast

He told stories about his days as a penniless college student trying to make it in Greenwich Village.

From The Daily Beast

Pride forbade him to confess himself a homeless, penniless vagabond.

From Project Gutenberg

Now men laughed at him, pointed to him with their fingers, and made their children mock and hoot the penniless insolvent.

From Project Gutenberg

Shortly after leaving his Quebrada-honda mountains of gold and silver, he was penniless at Carthagena.

From Project Gutenberg

Practically penniless and absolutely disillusioned, the amazing man was radiantly happy.

From Project Gutenberg

It is she whom I followed afoot, penniless and wanting bread, until I fell exhausted on the highway and racked with pain.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• bankrupt
• broke
• destitute
• impoverished
• indigent
• needy