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Preposition after adjective

Destitute of, in, by, on or after?

Destitute is usually followed by of to describe a complete lack of something.

Quick answer

Correct preposition with destitute

Use destitute of to mean completely lacking something. Other prepositions such as in, by, on, and after may appear as separate adjuncts, not as the normal complement.

destitute of hope
destitute of resources
destitute of support

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
destitute of + quality

Completely lacking something

Use of for missing qualities or resources.

The proposal was destitute of detail
2
destitute of + money or support

Describing poverty or absence

This pattern is common in formal writing.

They became destitute of income

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
destitute of
The region was destitute of clean water.
Standard and idiomatic.
destitute in
They lived destitute in the city.
In introduces location, not the missing thing.
destitute by
Families were ruined by war.
By is not the normal complement after destitute.
destitute on
He survived on little money.
On introduces support or income, not the adjective complement.
destitute after
Many were destitute after the flood.
After introduces time or cause, not the complement.

Common mistakes

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

Using in instead of of

Use of after destitute to name what is lacking.

✕ destitute in resources ✓ destitute of resources

Confusing complement and adjunct

Other prepositions may add time or place information.

✓ They were destitute after the crisis

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The village was destitute ___ medical supplies.
2. He became destitute ___ the war.
3. Choose the idiomatic phrase.

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Frequently asked questions

What does destitute of mean?

It means completely lacking something.

Can other prepositions follow destitute?

Yes, but they usually add information about place, time, or cause rather than completing the adjective.

Is destitute a formal word?

Yes. It is more formal than poor or lacking.

daily, for, daily, with, daily, in damaging to, for, of, in or as? damn about, near, for, to or as? "dangerous for" or "dangerous to"? "dark in", "dark for" or "dark of"? "daunting for" or "daunting to"? dead in, on, by, at or of? deadly to, in, for, of or with? "deaf to" or "deaf in"? dear to, in, for, of or as? deceased in, to, for, at or on? "decent in" or "decent for"?

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