What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
bankrupt
Example
After the economic crisis, many businesses went bankrupt and had to close down. [bankrupt: adjective]
Example
He declared bankruptcy after accumulating massive debts. [bankruptcy: noun]
penniless
Example
After losing his job, he became penniless and had to rely on charity for survival. [penniless: adjective]
Example
She found herself penniless and homeless after a series of unfortunate events. [penniless: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Penniless is more commonly used than bankrupt in everyday language. Penniless is a simple and widely understood term, while bankrupt is more technical and specific to financial and legal contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between bankrupt and penniless?
While bankrupt is associated with a formal and technical tone, penniless is more informal and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
