penniless

adjective

pen·​ni·​less ˈpe-ni-ləs 

: destitute of money

Synonyms of penniless

• impoverished
• poor
• broke

Examples of penniless in a Sentence

She was unemployed and penniless.

went from being a penniless girl to owner of her own restaurant

Recent Examples on the Web

Irene has blackmailed the Bohemian royal family, Carrie is a thief who has stolen rare stamps from a penniless woman unaware of their value, and Fanny disguises as a man to gain access to a bank vault. — Literary Hub, 24 July 2026

For all the tensions reshaping the upper reaches of college athletics, the saga of Cal Poly swimming shows how even penniless programs can generate a wealth of conflict. — Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 23 July 2026

Horan, the daughter of Irish immigrants, died penniless at the Springside Almshouse in 1907. — John Moritz, Hartford Courant, 20 July 2026

Nearly penniless in Missouri during the height of the Depression, both women’s financial futures hinged entirely on the book’s success. — Rosemary Counter, Vanity Fair, 6 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

penniless

adjective

pen·​ni·​less ˈpen-i-ləs 

ˈpen-ᵊl-əs

: having no money : very poor