as in impoverished
lacking money or material possessions
went from being a penniless girl to owner of her own restaurant
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of penniless
Unfortunately, not long after Sow arrived in early 2022, the school went out of business, leaving the 15-year-old homeless and penniless with nowhere to go.
—
Steve Hartman, CBS News, 21 Feb. 2025
Not everyone at the table was penniless.
—David Remnick, The New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2025
Regan befriended Bridger, who died in 1881 blind and penniless after living his final years in Westport, and rubbed shoulders with the James brothers.
—Dan Kelly, Kansas City Star, 26 Jan. 2025
Harper and Ullman said the younger women sometimes looked after elderly, infirm or penniless prisoners.
—Julie K. Brown, Miami Herald, 23 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for penniless
Steve Hartman, CBS News, 21 Feb. 2025
Not everyone at the table was penniless.
—David Remnick, The New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2025
Regan befriended Bridger, who died in 1881 blind and penniless after living his final years in Westport, and rubbed shoulders with the James brothers.
—Dan Kelly, Kansas City Star, 26 Jan. 2025
Harper and Ullman said the younger women sometimes looked after elderly, infirm or penniless prisoners.
—Julie K. Brown, Miami Herald, 23 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for penniless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for penniless
Adjective
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During campaign events, Lee, who grew up in an impoverished farming household and toiled in factories as a child, spoke from behind bullet-proof glass to crowds, which were surveyed by rooftop police snipers.—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
4 June 2025
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Curtis’ extraordinary talent is first recognized in kindergarten, when a charitable foundation donates instruments to his impoverished public school.—
Joan Gaylord,
Christian Science Monitor,
29 May 2025
Adjective
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The risk extends even to children due to increasing rates of childhood obesity and poor dietary habits.20 As a result, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that healthy adults have their lipids checked every four to six years.—
MD Published,
Verywell Health,
5 June 2025
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Most cited poor digital offerings or a lack of services and products.—
Robert Frank,
CNBC,
5 June 2025
Adjective
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Meanwhile, countless others who chased hot tips and quick wins are broke, both financially and emotionally.—
Shane Enete,
Forbes.com,
9 May 2025
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Image Set in Brooklyn in the summer of 2022, the action takes place in the apartment of Emmy, a playwright freshly cognizant of the danger of being too broke to afford health insurance.—
Laura Collins-Hughes,
New York Times,
7 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Penniless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/penniless. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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