destitute

American  

[des-ti-toot, -tyoot] / ˈdɛs tɪˌtut, -ˌtyut /

adjective

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

   Synonyms:

   impoverished , penniless , necessitous , indigent , poor , needy

   Antonyms:

   affluent

2. deprived of, devoid of, or lacking (often followed byof ).

   destitute of children.

   Synonyms:

   deficient

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verb (used with object)

destituted, destituting

1. to leave destitute.

destitute British  

/ ˈdɛstɪˌtjuːt /

adjective

1. lacking the means of subsistence; totally impoverished

2. completely lacking; deprived or bereft (of)

   destitute of words

3. obsolete  abandoned or deserted

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Other Word Forms

• destitutely adverb
• destituteness noun
• predestitute adjective
• undestitute adjective

Etymology

Origin of destitute

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; statute ) + -ū- thematic vowel + -tus past participle suffix

Example Sentences

Support would still be available for "those who are destitute" but will be withheld from those with permission to work who do not, and from people who break the law or defy removal directions.

From BBC

Steve Smith, from refugee charity Care4Calais, told the BBC: "In terms of people seeking asylum, the government has a duty, under the Refugee Convention, to house those who would be otherwise destitute."

From BBC

"In a modern slavery context, I believe it amounts to exploitation because if you don't perform this unpaid job, you have to leave the community destitute with no money or support."

From BBC

Another was sent to live with her destitute biological family after acting out.

From The Wall Street Journal

He ended up on the streets, in homes for the destitute, or working on tea estates in Assam.

From BBC

Related Words

• bankrupt
• exhausted
• impoverished
• indigent
• insolvent
• needy
• penniless
• poor
• poverty-stricken
• strapped