penniless

[pen-i-lis] / ˈpɛn ɪ lɪs /

ADJECTIVE

without any money

Synonyms

STRONGEST

bankrupt broke destitute impoverished indigent needy

WEAK

clean cleaned out dead broke dirt poor down to last penny flat flat broke impecunious in the gutter lacking moneyless necessitous on last leg over a barrel penurious poor poverty-stricken ruined strapped tapped out without a dime

Antonyms

STRONGEST

affluent rich solvent wealthy

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Dodsworth, best known for presenting the weather on ITV Wales, said she later discovered she had been left "absolutely penniless" and with debts in her name that she "knew nothing about".

From BBC • May 19, 2026

He was a humble guy who some said died penniless.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 17, 2026

So, if you happen to be one of the winners of the $965 million Mega Millions jackpot, how can you ensure you don’t end up penniless?

From MarketWatch • Nov. 12, 2025

“Flummoxed by the lack of resources”—in other words, aware that a penniless Uganda needed to reform or collapse—he “comfortably settled” into the role of Western lackey.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 15, 2025

Plantation owners were suddenly destitute, and state governments, shackled by war debt, were penniless.

From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander

penniless

Example Sentences

Related Words