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
This time, inspiration came from English writer H.G. Wells, whose sci-fi novel The Invisible Man — about a penniless researcher whose experiments in invisibility unlock a sadistic side to his personality — has become one of the all-time genre greats.
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Katie Rife, EW.com, 18 Oct. 2024
Venezuela’s generals would rather stay penniless but in power than step down and end up imprisoned.
—Laura Gamboa Gutiérrez, Foreign Affairs, 30 May 2019
About 18 months after finding over a million dollars in gold, they’re left penniless.
—Dina Kaur, The Arizona Republic, 10 Oct. 2024
The series and costumes simultaneously trace Joan’s life from a penniless single mother to a high-class thief that earns her the nickname of The Godmother in London’s criminal underworld.
—Hikmat Mohammed, WWD, 1 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for penniless 
Katie Rife, EW.com, 18 Oct. 2024
Venezuela’s generals would rather stay penniless but in power than step down and end up imprisoned.
—Laura Gamboa Gutiérrez, Foreign Affairs, 30 May 2019
About 18 months after finding over a million dollars in gold, they’re left penniless.
—Dina Kaur, The Arizona Republic, 10 Oct. 2024
The series and costumes simultaneously trace Joan’s life from a penniless single mother to a high-class thief that earns her the nickname of The Godmother in London’s criminal underworld.
—Hikmat Mohammed, WWD, 1 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for penniless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for penniless
Adjective
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Mason Fung’s impoverished young defendant Ma Ka Kit is arrested after receiving a package of narcotics from overseas.James Marsh, Deadline, 10 Jan. 2025
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Since Sudan’s civil war drove a surge of refugees to Egypt starting in 2023, however, the impoverished government in Cairo has complained louder and louder about the burden of foreigners.Vivian Yee, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Everybody connected to the death of this poor guy is dead now.Makena Gera, People.com, 12 Jan. 2025
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With sleep disorders affecting approximately 70 million Americans and poor sleep linked to serious health risks like heart disease, stroke and cognitive decline, the Tone Buds represent a significant advancement in personal sleep technology.Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report, Fox News, 12 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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If not a broke man’s Kyler Murray, Keene has a chance to be Gabriel-lite for Michigan.Austin Meek, The Athletic, 8 Jan. 2025
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Sheinbaum must walk a fine line between her constituents, who don’t want to see Mexico humiliated — or go broke — and the unpredictable, impetuous Trump.Patrick J. McDonnell, Los Angeles Times, 12 Dec. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Penniless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/penniless. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.
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