destitute
DES-tih-toot
/ˈdɛstɪtjuːt/
Without money, food, a home, or possessions; utterly lacking necessities.
Implies an absolute and complete lack of resources, often to the point of homelessness and starvation. It's a very strong term for extreme poverty.
The story behind the word. The word 'destitute' comes from the Latin 'destitutus,' the past participle of 'destituere,' meaning 'to abandon' or 'to forsake.' This root combines 'de-' (away from) and 'statuere' (to place). So, to be destitute literally means to be 'left without' or 'abandoned' of resources, emphasizing a complete lack of support.
Word relationships
- indigent: Similar severity, emphasizing lack of means for subsistence.
- impoverished: Means made poor, but 'destitute' implies a more absolute, current state of lacking everything.
- affluent: Having a great deal of money; wealthy.
- prosperous: Successful in material terms; flourishing financially.
Commonly confused with
- homeless: While many destitute people are homeless, 'destitute' specifically refers to the lack of all necessities, not just a home.
Word family
- destitution (noun): The state of being destitute; extreme poverty.
Collocations
- left destitute
- rendered destitute
- destitute families
- destitute of hope
Example sentences
- "After the earthquake, thousands were left destitute, with no homes and no means to rebuild their lives." Describing the aftermath of a natural disaster.
- "He arrived in the city a destitute man, with only the clothes on his back and a desperate hope for work." From a novel depicting social conditions.
Memory hook
Think of 'DES-titute' as 'DESperate, no STITch of clothing' – completely without anything. Desperate, no stitch
When not to use
Do not use 'destitute' for someone who is simply poor or struggling financially but still has basic shelter and food. It implies a dire, immediate need.
Fun facts
- The word can also be used figuratively, as in 'destitute of ideas' or 'destitute of compassion,' meaning utterly lacking in something non-material.
Explore more words
deprivation, desolate, bleak, devastation, desolation, despicable
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