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View synonyms for

destitute

[des-ti-toot, -tyoot]

adjective

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

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

    destitute of children.

    Synonyms:


verb (used with object)

destituted, destituting 
  1. to leave destitute.

destitute

/ ˈɛɪˌː /

adjective

  1. lacking the means of subsistence; totally impoverished

  2. completely lacking; deprived or bereft (of)

    destitute of words

  3. obsoleteabandoned or deserted

“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
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Other Word Forms

  • destitutely adverb
  • destituteness noun
  • predestitute adjective
  • undestitute adjective
  • ˈپˌٳܳٱԱ noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of destitute1

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin ŧپūٳܲ (past participle of ŧپٳܱ to abandon, deprive of support), equivalent to ŧ- de- + stit- place, put (combining form of statuere; statute ) + -ū- thematic vowel + -tus past participle suffix
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Word History and Origins

Origin of destitute1

C14: from Latin ŧپūٳܲ forsaken, from ŧپٳܱ to leave alone, from statuere to place
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

In it, he condemned “wealthy owners and all masters” who sought to profit off “the indigent and destitute.”

From

In fact, his language skills saved the 30-year-old from becoming destitute.

From

In Sudan, for example, the freeze in humanitarian assistance has led to the shuttering of over 1,100 communal kitchens set up to help those left destitute by the country's ongoing civil war.

From

It tells the story of a financially destitute man who signs up to be an "expendable" crew member on a dangerous mission to colonise an ice world.

From

The freezing of US humanitarian assistance has forced the closure of almost 80% of the emergency food kitchens set up to help people left destitute by Sudan's civil war, the BBC has learned.

From

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destinydestitution