penniless
- adjective
- /ˈpɛnɪləs/
- After losing his job, he found himself penniless and struggling to pay rent.
- dying penniless
Many investors were not just left penniless, they were left in debt.
- Many investors were not just left penniless, they were left in debt.
- And you now think I'm worthless, I'm penniless.
- You know who great artist Van Gogh died penniless, right.
- You know who great artists, Van Gogh died penniless, right.
- that man lost everything and again, penniless.
- I was a struggling, depressed, penniless screenwriter in Santa Monica in a one bedroom apartment, you know, in this kind of rundown apartment building, Right.
- She does these wonderful illustrations, and they are penniless.
- I was like, shit, I don't want to fucking leave my fucking kids penniless.
Examples
-
Weekends, penniless Susan stays on campus, writing letters and watching the beautiful undergraduates from a lonely distance.
Fiction book (1999) -
I had come to live a penniless existence.
-
Many investors were not just left penniless, they were left in debt.
-
Shall I tell you how penniless young women make their living in this town?
Fiction book (1993) -
I remember how I was penniless, without food and even clothes to wear, and God brought me here.
Academic text (1994) -
When our turn came, we were forced to go penniless, like so many thousands of others.
Blog text (12) -
So, broke and penniless, I took to the streets to sell my wares.
-
The next, she was widowed, penniless, alone in the world, except for a daughter.
Fiction book (1999) -
Corbett told him that he was homeless, almost penniless, and headed to Kansas to stake a claim.
Academic text (2009) -
Though uneducated and penniless, he was a gentle, nature-loving man, and music was his passion.
Academic text (2008)
Synonyms
Having little money or possessions
Having no money
Not able to pay debts
People or places that have very little money and few things they need
Without enough food, clothes, or a home and often gets help from others
Very poor and without enough money for basic needs
Very poor and without basic things like food or a home
Having very little money and struggling to pay bills
Very poor and needing help to live
Having no money at all
Having little or no money
Having little or no money
With no money at all
Having almost no money
Very poor and unable to pay for basic needs
Having no money to pay for things
Very poor with no money at all
A person who has little money to pay basic costs
A person who has little money and cannot buy basic things
Having almost no money or things
Very poor and living with almost no money
Poor and without enough food, money or shelter
Antonyms
How Poor
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
Penniless comes from penny, meaning 'a small coin', and the ending -less, meaning 'without' and seen in words like hopeless. So it literally means 'without a penny', which is why it describes someone who has no money.