bankrupt

noun

bank·rupt | \ ˈbaŋk-(ˌ)rəpt

Definition of bankrupt

(Entry 1 of 3)

1a : a debtor (such as an individual or an organization) whose property is subject to voluntary or involuntary administration under the bankruptcy laws for the benefit of the debtor's creditors

b : a person who becomes insolvent

2 : a person who is completely lacking in a particular desirable quality or attribute a moral bankrupt

bankrupt

adjective

Definition of bankrupt (Entry 2 of 3)

1a : reduced to a state of financial ruin : impoverished specifically : legally declared bankrupt the company went bankrupt

b : of or relating to bankrupts or bankruptcy bankrupt laws

2a : broken, ruined a bankrupt professional career

b : exhausted of valuable qualities : sterile a bankrupt old culture

c : destitute —used with of or in bankrupt of all merciful feelings

bankrupt

verb

bankrupted; bankrupting; bankrupts

Definition of bankrupt (Entry 3 of 3)

transitive verb

1 : to reduce to bankruptcy

2 : impoverish defections had bankrupted the party of its brainpower

Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about bankrupt

Keep scrolling for more

Synonyms & Antonyms for bankrupt

Synonyms: Adjective

Synonyms: Verb

Antonyms: Adjective

Choose the Right Synonym for bankrupt

Verb

deplete, drain, exhaust, impoverish, bankrupt mean to deprive of something essential to existence or potency. deplete implies a reduction in number or quantity so as to endanger the ability to function. depleting our natural resources drain implies a gradual withdrawal and ultimate deprivation of what is necessary to an existence. personal tragedy had drained him of all spirit exhaust stresses a complete emptying. her lecture exhausted the subject impoverish suggests a deprivation of something essential to richness or productiveness. impoverished soil bankrupt suggests impoverishment to the point of imminent collapse. war had bankrupted the nation of resources

Examples of bankrupt in a Sentence

Noun As a lawyer, she specialized in working with bankrupts. Adjective The lawsuit could leave them bankrupt. she's a kind soul, but bankrupt of all common sense, I'm afraid Verb Several risky deals bankrupted the company. several bad investments bankrupted him

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun The plan is intended to prevent the company from being dissolved, forced into liquidation or formally declared bankrupt. — Michelle Toh, CNN, "Thai Airways survives for now as government orders overhaul," 19 May 2020 India was granted independence in 1947 by a Britain left bankrupt after World War II. — Cassie Werber, Quartz, "The logic of disrupting public transport to protest climate change," 17 Oct. 2019 Ghosn was sent to Japan by Renault in the late 1990s and is credited with turning around a then near-bankrupt Nissan. — Washington Post, "Scandal-hit Nissan’s profits crash amid lower global sales," 12 Nov. 2019 China’s Hong Kong puppet regime, albeit bankrupt of any legitimacy, is still unwilling to cede power to the people. — Joshua Wong, Quartz, "How to fight for democracy when the government keeps throwing you in jail," 3 Sep. 2019 From Henry Ford to Donald Trump, America has lionized business leaders (and shameless bankrupts) who disdain history. — Walter Shapiro, The New Republic, "1998 Was a Seinfeld Election—Not an Impeachment Referendum," 6 June 2019 That perception came back to bite in big way later in 2008, with the failure of investment bank Lehman Brothers, which went bankrupt on Sept. 15, 2008. — Michael S. Derby, WSJ, "New York Fed Says It Wound Down Crisis Bailout Facility With $2.5 Billion Profit," 18 Sep. 2018 After earning $17 million, the men declared the company bankrupt. — Jacob Bernstein, New York Times, "The Great Interview Magazine Caper," 16 June 2018 Tarsila, bankrupt, divorced from de Andrade and increasingly Marxist, would veer into a more politically engaged style. — Jason Farago, New York Times, "She Led Latin American Art in a Bold New Direction," 15 Feb. 2018 Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective When companies go bankrupt, their gift cards can become worthless. — Kathleen Pender, SFChronicle.com, "Use it or lose it: Gift cards could become worthless if the issuer goes bankrupt," 2 Jan. 2021 Other bankrupt retailers have found a second life online. — Matt Ott, Star Tribune, "Left for dead, twice, RadioShack gets another shot online," 29 Nov. 2020 Other bankrupt retailers have found a second life online. — CBS News, "Left for dead, twice, RadioShack gets another shot online," 26 Nov. 2020 Other bankrupt retailers have found a second life online. — Matt Ott, Fortune, "Left for dead, twice, RadioShack gets another shot online," 26 Nov. 2020 Other bankrupt retailers have found a second life online. — Matt Ott, chicagotribune.com, "RadioShack cheats death, again, as brand gets another shot online," 24 Nov. 2020 In that case, Social Security truly could go bankrupt. — Max Richtman For Cnn Business Perspectives, CNN, "Trump can't be trusted to protect Social Security," 22 Oct. 2020 Obeying injunctions shouldn’t drive anyone bankrupt. — Gilad Edelman, Wired, "Finally, an Interesting Proposal for Section 230 Reform," 5 Feb. 2021 And most importantly, capital punishment is morally bankrupt. — Star Tribune, "Readers Write: COVID deaths, death penalty, Enbridge Line 3, automation, the glass ceiling," 7 Dec. 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb If the city loses again on appeal, that could bankrupt the city, Fouts said in his veto message. — Bill Laitner, Detroit Free Press, "Warren City Council ignores mayor's veto on marijuana shops," 10 Dec. 2020 Coming at a time when taxpayer money is being used to soften the impact of lockdowns that could bankrupt companies and throw millions out of jobs, the dissonance risks putting bankers on a collision course with regulators. — Marion Halftermeyer, Bloomberg.com, "Bonuses, Dividends Pit Europe Banks Against Economic Wardens," 3 Nov. 2020 Amid the state’s third surge of the coronavirus outbreak, craft brewers and bar owners told lawmakers Wednesday that Gov. John Bel Edwards’ COVID-19 restrictions are damaging their operations and threaten to bankrupt their businesses. — From Usa Today Network And Wire Reports, USA TODAY, "Conspiracy theories, overtime abuse, digital divide: News from around our 50 states," 4 Dec. 2020 But when the price of unsubsidized coverage would bankrupt the average middle-class family, the promise of protection rings hollow. — Seema Verma, National Review, "Obamacare’s Illusion of Pre-existing Condition Protections," 19 Oct. 2020 This would not only decimate school funding but would bankrupt the state and end the PFD for good. — Anchorage Daily News, "Candidate Q&A: Alaska House District 28 — Suzanne LaFrance," 3 Oct. 2020 Biden has hammered Trump on Social Security, airing ads in Florida and other key states saying Trump’s plan to eliminate payroll taxes would bankrupt the program. — Bill Allison, Bloomberg.com, "Trump’s Losing the Ad War, Costing Him Older Voters," 1 Oct. 2020 Kelly said Biden's plan, which provides Americans with the choice of purchasing a public health insurance option like Medicare, could bankrupt rural hospitals. — Molly Beck, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Biden campaign ramps up messaging on health care with Supreme Court vote looming," 30 Sep. 2020 The package of bills tries to prevent frivolous lawsuits that can bankrupt businesses, Filler said. — Slone Terranella, Detroit Free Press, "Bills OK'd by Michigan House protect employers from COVID-19 lawsuits," 25 Sep. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'bankrupt.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about bankrupt

Dictionary Entries near bankrupt

Statistics for bankrupt

Cite this Entry

“Bankrupt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bankrupt. Accessed 27 Feb. 2021.

Style: MLA

MLA

Chicago

APA

Merriam-Webster

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for bankrupt

bankrupt

noun

English Language Learners Definition of bankrupt

(Entry 1 of 3)

: a person, business, etc., that is unable to pay debts

bankrupt

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of bankrupt (Entry 2 of 3)

: unable to pay debts

—used to say that someone or something completely lacks a good or desired quality

bankrupt

verb

English Language Learners Definition of bankrupt (Entry 3 of 3)

: to cause (a person, business, etc.) to be unable to pay debts : to make (someone or something) bankrupt

See the full definition for bankrupt in the English Language Learners Dictionary

bankrupt

adjective

bank·rupt | \ ˈbaŋk-ˌrəpt

Kids Definition of bankrupt

(Entry 1 of 3)

: not having enough money to pay debts

bankrupt

verb

bankrupted; bankrupting

Kids Definition of bankrupt (Entry 2 of 3)

: to cause to not have enough money to pay debts That last risky deal bankrupted the company.

bankrupt

noun

Kids Definition of bankrupt (Entry 3 of 3)

: a person or business that does not have enough money to pay debts

bankrupt

noun

bank·rupt | \ ˈbaŋ-ˌkrəpt

Legal Definition of bankrupt

(Entry 1 of 3)

: a debtor (as an individual or organization) whose property is subject to administration under the bankruptcy laws for the benefit of the debtor's creditors was adjudicated a bankrupt — see also debtor

bankrupt

adjective

Legal Definition of bankrupt (Entry 2 of 3)