Advertisement

Advertisement

View synonyms for penniless

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
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


Discover More

Derived Forms

  • ˈpennilessness, noun
  • ˈpennilessly, adverb
Discover More

Other Words From

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of penniless1

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

Synonym Study

See poor.
Discover More

Example Sentences

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


pennies from heavenpennillion