ISEE/SSAT Vocabulary Builder›Words›D›destitute
ISEE/SSAThard
destitute
without the basic necessities of life, especially due to extreme poverty
Synonyms
- impoverished
- penniless
- needy
Antonyms
- wealthy
- prosperous
- affluent
destitute in a sentence
After the factory closed, many families in town became destitute within months.
When the harvest failed for the third year in a row, entire villages were left destitute and dependent on outside aid.
Where it comes from
From Latin destituere 'to abandon, forsake'
Memory hook
DESTITUTE — 'de-' (without) + sounds like 'institute' resources, left with none.
Read it in context
- Voices Across Generations Social Science