down-and-out 1 of 2

adjective

ˈdau̇n-ən(d)-ˈau̇t How to pronounce down-and-out (audio)
Definition of down-and-outnext
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1
as in weak
lacking bodily strength I'm over the flu, but I still feel down-and-out

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in impoverished
lacking money or material possessions a soup kitchen where the down-and-out daily line up for a hot meal

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

down-and-out

2 of 2

noun

variants or down-and-outer
as in have-not

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of down-and-out
Adjective
The clan of oddballs and down-and-outs has more than a little in common with the Kim family in Parasite, including Song as a hapless patriarch. Stream on Max Mother (2009) The opening and closing scenes of Bong’s masterful 2009 film are, swear to God, among the greatest bookends in movie history. — Alison Willmore, Vulture, 7 Mar. 2025 This quirky Turkish dramedy series tells the tale of a down-and-out sports betting writer for a newspaper who is roped into teaming up with the ghost of a bossy business tycoon demanding to crack his own murder case. — Dana Feldman, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for down-and-out
  1. weak
  2. impoverished
  3. have-not
  4. poor
  5. feeble
  6. pauper
  7. frail
  8. hobo
Adjective
  • Murena Pixel Tablet And Third-Party Apps The ecosystem for Android tablets is weaker than that of Android smartphones.
    — Ewan Spence, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2025
  • The health infrastructure that the U.S. would have to marshal against them is already weak.
    — Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 21 Mar. 2025
Definition of weak
Adjective
  • With the dwarfs and bandits by her side, Snow White vows to reclaim her parents’ home and restore peace to her impoverished kingdom.
    — Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY, 21 Mar. 2025
  • The homes are part of an ambitious five-year plan, announced in 2021, to build 50,000 additional apartments in Pyongyang, where residents’ quality of life is considerably higher than elsewhere in the impoverished country.
    — Oscar Holland, CNN, 19 Mar. 2025
Definition of impoverished
Noun
  • Behind the scenes, the information divide between baseball's haves and have-nots looks even larger as the talent divide on the field.
    — Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 21 Mar. 2025
  • In the rankings of happiness haves and have-nots, the U.S. dropped to its lowest ever spot at No. 24, continuing its decline from a peak of the 11th place over a decade ago.
    — Peter Guo, NBC News, 20 Mar. 2025
Definition of have-not
Adjective
  • This can manifest in poor financial behaviors like excessive credit card debt, minimal savings, or impulsive investment decisions.
    — Shane Enete, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025
  • From the moment the details of the agreement became known, analysts gave the deal a poor prognosis.
    — TIME, TIME, 23 Mar. 2025
Definition of poor
Adjective
  • Francis' feeble voice, discernible through his labored breaths and in his native Spanish, was recorded Thursday from the hospital and broadcast to the faithful in St. Peter's Square who had gathered for the nightly recitation of the rosary prayer.
    — arkansasonline.com, arkansasonline.com, 7 Mar. 2025
  • When experienced all at once, these features can further shake an emerging adult’s already feeble sense of stability.
    — Mark Travers, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2025
Definition of feeble
Noun
  • They were presumed to be paupers from Mexico, looking for charity.
    — Richard J. Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Mar. 2025
  • The Frasers find out that Jane has been buried in an unmarked grave in a pauper’s field, news that devastates Frances.
    — Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 17 Jan. 2025
Definition of pauper
Adjective
  • His rapping has a frail, slithering quality; his vocal tone morphs between cute squeakiness and ragged rottweiler growls.
    — Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 21 Mar. 2025
  • In our grandparents’ day, families weren’t dispersed across the country, and family members often took care of their frail relatives.
    — Steve Vernon, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2025
Definition of frail
Noun
  • Extra hooks allow the bag to transform into a trapezoidal hobo shape.
    — Joelle Diderich, WWD, 19 Sep. 2024
  • There’s a lot to love about Coach’s viral shoulder bag: the modern hobo style, the soft leather, the distinct shape.
    — Lindy Segal, Glamour, 13 Sep. 2024
Definition of hobo

Browse Nearby Words

down and dirty
down-and-out
down-and-outs
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Down-and-out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/down-and-out. Accessed 30 Mar. 2025.

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