destitute

/ˈdestɪtjuːt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈdestɪtuːt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈde-stə-ˌtüt -ˌt(y)üt/ (ame, mw)

destitute — adjective

  • destitutepositive
  • more destitutecomparative
  • most destitutesuperlative

1. so poor that a person has no secure place to live and cannot get the basic thing

1.形容詞C1
釋義

so poor that a person has no secure place to live and cannot get the basic things needed to stay alive.

例句

After the factory closed, Beatriz and her sons became destitute within months.

become destitute after losing income

Aid workers brought blankets to the destitute families sleeping beside the station.

destitute + families in a relief context

同義詞
  • impoverished

    broad term for severe poverty, but not always as extreme as destitute

  • penniless

    focuses on having no money, without necessarily implying loss of shelter or food

  • indigent

    very formal and often used in legal or official contexts

反義詞
  • wealthy

    has far more money and security than needed for basic life

  • comfortable

    suggests stable living conditions and enough money for everyday needs

文法句型

become destitute

destitute families

用法筆記

Usually describes people, families, or communities who lack money, shelter, and other essentials. It is stronger and more serious than simply poor.

常見錯誤

❌The village was destitute of jobs.
✅The village had very few jobs, and many families were destitute.
💡sense 1 describes people lacking the basics of life, not a place lacking one resource.

2. showing a total absence of some quality, feeling, or useful feature that would n

2.形容詞C1
釋義

showing a total absence of some quality, feeling, or useful feature that would normally be expected.

例句

The report was destitute of useful detail, so the board asked for new evidence.

formal pattern: be destitute of + noun

Hari's apology sounded destitute of feeling, and nobody believed he was sorry.

同義詞
  • devoid

    very close in meaning and common in the same formal pattern

  • bereft

    often suggests painful loss rather than simple absence

  • barren

    more figurative and often used for land, minds, or artistic work

反義詞
  • full

    contains plenty of the quality or feature being discussed

  • rich

    suggests an abundance of qualities, detail, or imagination

文法句型

be destitute of + noun

用法筆記

This sense is mainly formal and usually appears in the pattern 'destitute of + noun'. Distinguish it from sense 1, which is about lacking money and life's necessities.

常見錯誤

❌After losing his apartment, Omar became destitute of money.
✅After losing his apartment, Omar became destitute.
💡the poverty sense does not need 'of'; 'destitute of' is mainly used for an abstract quality in sense 2.