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

Lauren, not her real name, told the BBC she and her children were left 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

“From 2017 to 2020 I hid from the world. I was single, unemployed, penniless and disabled.”

From BBC

He was now penniless, his $3,000 savings gone.

From BBC

Related Words

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