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

Other Word Forms

• pennilessly adverb
• pennilessness 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

Yet the hard, pessimax truth of the matter found her stranded and penniless in a midsized European nation where she did not speak the language, wearing boy’s clothes and smelling of fish.

Read more on Literature

So, if you happen to be one of the winners of tonight’s now $980 million Mega Millions jackpot, then how can you ensure you don’t end up penniless?

Read more on MarketWatch

So, if you happen to be one of the winners of the $965 million Mega Millions jackpot, how can you ensure you don’t end up penniless?

Read more on MarketWatch

Soon after his private investigation of New Century, Park had a phone call from a penniless, jobless old college friend who had been offered several loans from banks to buy a house he couldn’t afford.

Read more on Literature

“Flummoxed by the lack of resources”—in other words, aware that a penniless Uganda needed to reform or collapse—he “comfortably settled” into the role of Western lackey.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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