destitute

[ des-ti-toot, -tyoot ]
See synonyms for: destitutedestitutes on Thesaurus.com

adjective
  1. without means of subsistence; lacking food, clothing, and shelter.

  2. deprived of, devoid of, or lacking (often followed by of): destitute of children.

verb (used with object),des·ti·tut·ed, des·ti·tut·ing.
  1. to leave destitute.

Origin of destitute

1
1350–1400; Middle English <Latin dēstitūtus (past participle of dēstituere to abandon, deprive of support), equivalent to dē-de- + stit- place, put (combining form of statuere;see statute) + -ū- thematic vowel + -tus past participle suffix

Other words for destitute

Opposites for destitute

Other words from destitute

  • des·ti·tute·ly, adverb
  • des·ti·tute·ness, noun
  • pre·des·ti·tute, adjective
  • un·des·ti·tute, adjective

Words Nearby destitute

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use destitute in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for destitute

destitute

/ (ˈdɛstɪˌtjuːt) /


adjective
  1. lacking the means of subsistence; totally impoverished

  2. (postpositive foll by of) completely lacking; deprived or bereft (of): destitute of words

  1. obsolete abandoned or deserted

Origin of destitute

1
C14: from Latin dēstitūtus forsaken, from dēstituere to leave alone, from statuere to place

Derived forms of destitute

  • destituteness, noun

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