as in impoverished
lacking money or material possessions
went from being a penniless girl to owner of her own restaurant
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Recent Examples of penniless
One follower gave the movement her life savings before dying of cancer, virtually penniless.
—
Michael Rothfeld, New York Times, 29 Dec. 2024
Will Smith stars as a penniless Anthony Ramos lookalike fish named Oscar, who wiles away his days scrubbing cetaceans’ tongues clean in the 'Whale Wash,' fantasizing about the good life.
—Them, 23 Dec. 2024
Last December, New York City, Chicago and Denver pleaded for federal assistance to help house tens of thousands of migrants who had arrived penniless after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, bused them there from the border.
—Lauren Villagran, USA TODAY, 9 Nov. 2024
Along with invisible, the assistant can also be penniless, powerless and a vulnerable target.
—Victoria Bekiempis, Vulture, 6 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for penniless
Michael Rothfeld, New York Times, 29 Dec. 2024
Will Smith stars as a penniless Anthony Ramos lookalike fish named Oscar, who wiles away his days scrubbing cetaceans’ tongues clean in the 'Whale Wash,' fantasizing about the good life.
—Them, 23 Dec. 2024
Last December, New York City, Chicago and Denver pleaded for federal assistance to help house tens of thousands of migrants who had arrived penniless after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, bused them there from the border.
—Lauren Villagran, USA TODAY, 9 Nov. 2024
Along with invisible, the assistant can also be penniless, powerless and a vulnerable target.
—Victoria Bekiempis, Vulture, 6 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for penniless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for penniless
Adjective
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On the idyllic shores of the once popular tourist hot spot Inle Lake, in southern Shan state, the earthquake destroyed hundreds of bamboo houses on stilts occupied by impoverished villagers, according to aid workers.—
Ross Adkin,
CNN Money,
4 Apr. 2025
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These navigators link impoverished Floridians with the network of religious and community organizations that support them and teach them how to take of themselves, according to Hope Florida’s supporters.—
Jeffrey Schweers,
The Orlando Sentinel,
4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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There’s a real debate to be had about what responsibility better-off neighborhoods like Hyde Park have to help solve humanitarian problems that often are laid at the feet of poorer areas.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Apr. 2025
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The strong United cohort, almost entirely comprised of dominant sides under Ferguson, has not shied away from criticising the club, players and managers when results have been poor.—
Elias Burke,
New York Times,
5 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The match-up broke ratings records, with nearly 128 million viewers tuning in, according to Nielsen.—
Judy Kurtz,
The Hill,
26 Mar. 2025
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Fake Wedding follows two broke singles who throw a fake wedding to cash in on the registry and the very real problems the make-believe couple encounters.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
17 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Penniless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/penniless. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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