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Prepositions after adjectives

Bankrupt in, by, for, as or with

Bankrupt is commonly used with in and sometimes with by or with in specific meanings. Bankrupt for and bankrupt as are not standard adjective patterns.

Quick answer

How to use bankrupt with prepositions

Use bankrupt in to describe lack in an area, especially ideas or morals. Use bankrupt by or bankrupt with in wider sentence structures. Bankrupt for and bankrupt as are not standard combinations.

The campaign was morally bankrupt in every way.
The company was driven bankrupt by rising costs.
The region was bankrupt with debt.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
bankrupt in + area

Showing lack of qualities or ideas

Use bankrupt in for moral, intellectual, or creative emptiness.

The argument was bankrupt in logic.
He seemed bankrupt in compassion.
2
bankrupt by + cause

Showing what caused bankruptcy

By often introduces the cause in passive-style structures.

The business was bankrupt by legal fees.
3
bankrupt with + debt

Describing an overwhelming condition

With can introduce what someone has in excessive amount.

The firm was bankrupt with unpaid loans.
4
go bankrupt

Talking about financial failure

Bankrupt is often used without a following preposition.

Many shops went bankrupt during the recession.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
bankrupt in
The policy was bankrupt in vision.
lacking a quality or principle
bankrupt by
The company was bankrupt by the end of the year.
financially ruined by a time or cause
bankrupt with
They were bankrupt with debt.
overwhelmed by something negative
bankrupt for
The company went bankrupt for tax reasons.
for explains the reason, not a fixed adjective pattern
bankrupt as
He worked as a bankrupt consultant.
as introduces a role, not a standard pattern after bankrupt

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Using bankrupt for as a fixed pattern

For may explain a reason, but it is not normally selected by bankrupt.

✕ The firm was bankrupt for cash. ✓ The firm was bankrupt and short of cash.

Using bankrupt as for roles

As usually introduces a profession or role, not a complement after bankrupt.

✕ She was bankrupt as honesty. ✓ She was bankrupt in honesty.

Confusing bankrupt in with financial bankruptcy

Bankrupt in often refers to qualities, not money.

✕ The shop was bankrupt in money. ✓ The shop went bankrupt.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The proposal was bankrupt ___ fresh ideas.
2. The company was driven bankrupt ___ rising costs.
3. Which phrase is not a standard adjective pattern?

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Frequently asked questions

Can bankrupt describe morals or ideas?

Yes. Bankrupt in is often used figuratively for morals, values, or creativity.

Is bankrupt with common?

It appears in descriptive writing, especially with debt or problems.

Do I always need a preposition after bankrupt?

No. Go bankrupt is very common without any following preposition.

bad, for, bad, of baffling to, for, in, as or of? "barefoot in" or "barefoot on"? "bare of", "bare with" or "bare in"? "basic of" or "basic to"? beautiful in, with, on, for or to? beholden to, for or on? "beloved by", "beloved to" or "beloved of"? "bemused by" or "bemused at"? "beneficial to" or "beneficial for"? bereft of, at, by, in or without? bewildered by, at, as, with or in?

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