Destitute
/ˈdestɪtuːt/adjective
Having no money, no food, no home, and no belongings.
Many homeless people are destitute and rely on charities for food and clothing.
Often appears as...
- destitute of hope
- destitute of resources
adjective
Lacking something very important.
He felt destitute of all joy in his life after his wife passed away.
Often appears as...
- destitute of joy
- destitute of meaning
adjective
Having no money, no food, no home, and no belongings.
Many homeless people are destitute and rely on charities for food and clothing.
Often appears as...
- destitute of hope
- destitute of resources
adjective
Lacking something very important.
He felt destitute of all joy in his life after his wife passed away.
Often appears as...
- destitute of joy
- destitute of meaning
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Extreme Need
Use 'destitute' to describe someone in severe poverty, lacking basic necessities.
The flood left many villagers destitute, without shelter or food.
Pro Tip 2/3Careful Use
'Destitute' is a strong word. Use it to describe dire situations, not just being low on funds.
You're not destitute if you can't afford a new phone; it's for when you can't afford meals.
Pro Tip 3/3Help Context
Often associated with charity, as destitute people might need external assistance.
Organizations worldwide are striving to aid destitute families impacted by war.
Compare with
bankruptbeggarlyhomelessimpecuniousimpoverishindigentinsolventneedypenniless
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Video examples
Stephen Ritz: A teacher...
This immigrant student is the first one in his family to use an ATM. And this is the true triple bottom line, because we can take neighborhoods that were abandoned and destitute and turn them into something like this with interiors like this. Wow! People noticed. And notice they did. So CNN called, and we were delighted to have them come to our farmer's market.
Video examples
The new American Dream PIPE...
We need portable health benefits. We need policies that reflect that everyone deserves to be vulnerable or care for vulnerable others, without becoming destitute. We need to seriously consider a universal basic income. We need to reinvent labor organizing. The promise of a work world that is structured to actually fit
Video examples
Isabel Allende: Tales of...
and in this case, the trickle-down effect, which does not work in economics, works perfectly. Abuse trickles down from the top of the ladder to the bottom. Women and children, especially the poor, are at the bottom. Even the most destitute of men have someone they can abuse -- a woman or a child.
Video examples
Tales of passion -...
but they always benefit them and in this case the trickle-down effect which does not work in economics works perfectly abuse trickles down from the top of the ladder to the bottom women and children especially the poor are at the bottom even the most destitute of men have
Video examples
Why we get mad -- and...
and you're going to be broke. You're going to be destitute. Might as well stop now, turn around, move in with your parents. Why? "Because of this person in front of me. This is not a person, this is a monster." And this monster is here just to ruin your life.
Video examples
The most notorious...
from falling into Cope’s hands. Desperate to catch up with Marsh, Cope invested his dwindling fortune into silver mining. The gamble failed, and he was left nearly destitute. While Cope contemplated selling his precious collection,
Video examples
Discovering Homo Naledi:...
and failed, and had come back destitute. And said, "I made a mistake. Paleoanthropology is my love please can you give me a job, I want to get back into it." And I said, "You know, your timing's good." "I want to get underground."
Video examples
Our refugee system is...
Around the world, we present refugees with an almost impossible choice between three encampment, urban destitution and dangerous journeys. For refugees, that choice is the global refugee regime today.
Video examples
Inside the mind of a...
The War of Independence impacted upon us terribly, pitting family against family, neighbor against neighbor. And at the age of 12 I experienced war, destitution in my family,
Video examples
Gary Haugen: The hidden...
You see, Venus was thrown into destitution by violence. And then it occurred to me, of course, that none of my child sponsorships, none of the microloans,
Video examples
Stephen Ritz: A teacher...
This immigrant student is the first one in his family to use an ATM. And this is the true triple bottom line, because we can take neighborhoods that were abandoned and destitute and turn them into something like this with interiors like this. Wow! People noticed. And notice they did. So CNN called, and we were delighted to have them come to our farmer's market.
Video examples
The new American Dream PIPE...
We need portable health benefits. We need policies that reflect that everyone deserves to be vulnerable or care for vulnerable others, without becoming destitute. We need to seriously consider a universal basic income. We need to reinvent labor organizing. The promise of a work world that is structured to actually fit
Video examples
Isabel Allende: Tales of...
and in this case, the trickle-down effect, which does not work in economics, works perfectly. Abuse trickles down from the top of the ladder to the bottom. Women and children, especially the poor, are at the bottom. Even the most destitute of men have someone they can abuse -- a woman or a child.
Video examples
Tales of passion -...
but they always benefit them and in this case the trickle-down effect which does not work in economics works perfectly abuse trickles down from the top of the ladder to the bottom women and children especially the poor are at the bottom even the most destitute of men have
Video examples
Why we get mad -- and...
and you're going to be broke. You're going to be destitute. Might as well stop now, turn around, move in with your parents. Why? "Because of this person in front of me. This is not a person, this is a monster." And this monster is here just to ruin your life.
Video examples
The most notorious...
from falling into Cope’s hands. Desperate to catch up with Marsh, Cope invested his dwindling fortune into silver mining. The gamble failed, and he was left nearly destitute. While Cope contemplated selling his precious collection,
Video examples
Discovering Homo Naledi:...
and failed, and had come back destitute. And said, "I made a mistake. Paleoanthropology is my love please can you give me a job, I want to get back into it." And I said, "You know, your timing's good." "I want to get underground."
Video examples
Our refugee system is...
Around the world, we present refugees with an almost impossible choice between three encampment, urban destitution and dangerous journeys. For refugees, that choice is the global refugee regime today.
Video examples
Inside the mind of a...
The War of Independence impacted upon us terribly, pitting family against family, neighbor against neighbor. And at the age of 12 I experienced war, destitution in my family,
Video examples
Gary Haugen: The hidden...
You see, Venus was thrown into destitution by violence. And then it occurred to me, of course, that none of my child sponsorships, none of the microloans,
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Harriet Tubman
American Activist
Most of those coming from the mainland are very destitute, almost naked. I am trying to find places for those able to work, and provide for them as best I can, so as to lighten the burden on the Government as much as possible, while at the same time they learn to respect themselves by earning their own living.
Quote examples
Katharine Viner
British Journalist
For some time, destitution has been a harsh reality for asylum seekers, migrants, and refugees who are unable to access mainstream accommodation and support. Delays in the asylum and appeals process can leave them in limbo for years without money, shelter, and advice.
Quote examples
Thor Heyerdahl
Norwegian Explorer
It is also rarer to find happiness in a man surrounded by the miracles of technology than among people living in the desert of the jungle and who by the standards set by our society would be considered destitute and out of touch.
Quote examples
Paul Farmer
American Educator
Civil and political rights are critical, but not often the real problem for the destitute sick. My patients in Haiti can now vote but they can't get medical care or clean water.
Quote examples
Paul Theroux
American Novelist
Nyasaland was the perfect country for a volunteer. It was friendly and destitute; it was small and out-of-the-way. It had all of Africa's problems - poverty, ignorance, disease.
Quote examples
Roopa Ganguly
Indian Actress
Even before I became an artiste, when I barely had the means to support anyone financially, I took care of several destitute women, giving them shelter, food and clothing.
Quote examples
Raja Krishnamoorthi
American Businessman
When we came to this country, unfortunately, my father lost his job, and we were this close to destitution. We were put on food stamps. We were put in public housing.
Quote examples
Lakhdar Brahimi
Algerian Public Servant
Several million people inside and outside Afghanistan are destitute and desperately in need of help.
Quote examples
Charlie Chaplin
English Actor
I'd sooner be called a successful crook than a destitute monarch.
Quote examples
Charles Lindbergh
American Aviator
Time is no longer endless or the horizon destitute of hope.
Quote examples
Harriet Tubman
American Activist
Most of those coming from the mainland are very destitute, almost naked. I am trying to find places for those able to work, and provide for them as best I can, so as to lighten the burden on the Government as much as possible, while at the same time they learn to respect themselves by earning their own living.
Quote examples
Katharine Viner
British Journalist
For some time, destitution has been a harsh reality for asylum seekers, migrants, and refugees who are unable to access mainstream accommodation and support. Delays in the asylum and appeals process can leave them in limbo for years without money, shelter, and advice.
Quote examples
Thor Heyerdahl
Norwegian Explorer
It is also rarer to find happiness in a man surrounded by the miracles of technology than among people living in the desert of the jungle and who by the standards set by our society would be considered destitute and out of touch.
Quote examples
Paul Farmer
American Educator
Civil and political rights are critical, but not often the real problem for the destitute sick. My patients in Haiti can now vote but they can't get medical care or clean water.
Quote examples
Paul Theroux
American Novelist
Nyasaland was the perfect country for a volunteer. It was friendly and destitute; it was small and out-of-the-way. It had all of Africa's problems - poverty, ignorance, disease.
Quote examples
Roopa Ganguly
Indian Actress
Even before I became an artiste, when I barely had the means to support anyone financially, I took care of several destitute women, giving them shelter, food and clothing.
Quote examples
Raja Krishnamoorthi
American Businessman
When we came to this country, unfortunately, my father lost his job, and we were this close to destitution. We were put on food stamps. We were put in public housing.
Quote examples
Lakhdar Brahimi
Algerian Public Servant
Several million people inside and outside Afghanistan are destitute and desperately in need of help.
Quote examples
Charlie Chaplin
English Actor
I'd sooner be called a successful crook than a destitute monarch.
Quote examples
Charles Lindbergh
American Aviator
Time is no longer endless or the horizon destitute of hope.
Example 1 of 10
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