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.
Examples of destitute in a Sentence
Lincee Ray Published, EW.com, 22 Aug. 2025
The Shinnecock Indian Nation occupies one of the most destitute areas of Long Island.
—Air Mail, 16 Aug. 2025
According to new research published in the E-Journal of the Excavations of Pompeii, a handful of survivors, destitute wanderers, and treasure hunters continued to call the ruins home for decades.
—Andrew Paul Aug 7, Popular Science, 7 Aug. 2025
When Theodore Hook’s destitute daughter neared death in 1893, a friend doxxed her, sharing her address with the world in the hope that donations would trickle in and ease her final days.
—Daniel Seifert, JSTOR Daily, 16 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for destitute
Cite this Entry
“Destitute.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/destitute. Accessed 8 Sep. 2025.
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destitute
adjective
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