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

Derived Forms

• ˈpennilessness, noun
• ˈpennilessly, adverb

Other Words From

• penni·less·ly adverb
• penni·less·ness 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

The actress said that by this February, she was penniless.

From BBC

Instead, they had ended up penniless and too afraid to tell their families back home.

From BBC

A member of the family that owns the Hyatt hotel chain, Pritzker noted that his family emigrated penniless while fleeing the Soviets in Ukraine.

From Los Angeles Times

Like a wounded boy desperate for an embrace but who refuses to verbalize his need, he wanders penniless through town, a handsome flesh-and-blood specter in a dirty white suit.

From Los Angeles Times

Christopher's diaries date from 1953 to 1963, when he was divorced, penniless and living on trout and potatoes in a remote cottage in the wilds of north Wales, suffering writers' block.

From BBC

Related Words

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