Definitions

empty-handed

[emp-tee-han-did] / ˈɛmp tiˈhæn dɪd /

ADJECTIVE

necessitous

Synonyms

WEAK

bad off bankrupt beggared beggarly behind the eight ball broke destitute dirt poor down-and-out flat flat broke fortuneless hard up impecunious impoverished in need in want indigent insolvent low meager moneyless needy on one's uppers pauperized penniless penurious pinched poverty-stricken reduced scanty stone broke strapped suffering truly needy underprivileged unprosperous

ADJECTIVE

poor

Synonyms

STRONGEST

destitute impoverished indigent low meager needy penniless poverty-stricken underprivileged

STRONG

bankrupt down-and-out flat insolvent scanty suffering

WEAK

bad off beggared beggarly behind the eight ball broke dirt poor flat broke fortuneless hard up impecunious in need in want moneyless necessitous pauperized penurious pinched reduced stone broke strapped truly needy unprosperous

Antonyms

STRONGEST

affluent prosperous rich wealthy well-to-do

STRONG

comfortable fortunate solvent

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

But he’ll go home early and empty-handed unless fifth-ranked Portugal improves on the listless performance it had in a draw with the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 21, 2026

But Mercedes’s friend Anna Kristovich, 16, left the store empty-handed.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 16, 2026

Elizabeth Holmes, founder of Theranos, walked out of his office empty-handed.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 8, 2026

The Londoner went free and detectives left empty-handed.

From BBC • Mar. 13, 2026

They’d arrived in Pittsburgh empty-handed and they didn’t buy much beyond the necessities in their time in the city, all their money going toward the possibility of having their own place.

From "Ophie's Ghosts" by Justina Ireland

empty-handed

Example Sentences

Related Words