destitute
adjective
Did you know?
You may be surprised to learn that "destitute" is related to words like "statue," "statute," and even "statistics." The Latin word status, meaning "position" or "state," is the source of these and other English words. Some terms of this family are directly related to "status," while others come to English through "statuere," a Latin derivative of "status" that means "to set up." "Destitute" came from "destituere" ("to abandon" or "to deprive"), a joining of "statuere" and the prefix de- ("from, down, away"). "Statuere" also gave us "constitute," "institute," and "restitution," among other similar-sounding words.
Synonyms
Examples of destitute in a Sentence
Daniel Corstange, Foreign Affairs, 14 Sep. 2016
With little effort, Israel can continue to control the flow of international aid to Gaza’s destitute population and use disproportionate and overwhelming force against any nascent glimmer of resistance.
—Robert Grenier, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018
Mauritius may have gambled with its national dowry, but its consideration for a destitute citizenry wasn’t merely notional.
—Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2024
The migrant workers abandoned in Lebanon Migrant workers in Lebanon, the vast majority of which are women, have been made destitute by Israel’s bombardment.
—Andrew Torgan, CNN, 13 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for destitute 
Dictionary Entries Near destitute
Cite this Entry
“Destitute.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/destitute. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.
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destitute
adjective
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