The word broken informally means having little or no money. Alternatives like penniless, short of cash, and cash-strapped describe different financial situations.
Learn these alternatives to express financial difficulties clearly in everyday conversations, essays, and blog posts.
Quick Answer
The best alternative to break depends on what you want to express.
- Penniless: Having no money.
- Flat broke: Having absolutely no money; informal.
- Short of cash: Not having enough money for current needs.
- Strapped for cash: Having little money available for expenses.
- Cash-strapped: Having limited funds.
- Hard up: Experiencing financial difficulty.
- Poor: Having little money or limited resources.
In everyday American English, short of cash is useful for a temporary money shortage. Use penniless to emphasize having no money and destitute for severe poverty.
Definition and Meaning of Broke
Broke is an informal adjective that usually means having little or no money available to spend.
For example, “I’m broke until payday” means the speaker has little or no spending money until the next paycheck.
The word also has other uses:
- Past tense of break: “I broke my phone yesterday.”
- Part of an expression: “The car broke down.”
- Financial meaning: “I’m broke this week.”
In standard American English, broken usually describes something damaged or no longer working: “My phone is broken.” Words such as exhausted and drained describe tiredness, not a lack of money, so they are not synonyms for the financial meaning of broke.
Table of Synonyms for Broke
| Word or Expression | Category | Simple Meaning |
| Penniless | Close synonym | Having no money |
| Flat broke | Informal expression | Having absolutely no money |
| Short of cash | Informal expression | Lacking enough money for current needs |
| Strapped for cash | Informal expression | Having little money for expenses |
| Cash-strapped | Informal alternative | Having limited funds |
| Hard up | Informal expression | Experiencing financial difficulty |
| Poor | Context-dependent alternative | Having little money or resources |
| Skint | British informal expression | Having no money or very little money |
| Broke as a joke | Humorous expression | Having no money |
| Without money | Descriptive expression | Having no money available |
| Destitute | Related financial term | Extremely poor and lacking basic needs |
| Impoverished | Related financial term | Made poor or deprived of resources |
| Indigent | Formal financial term | Extremely poor and in need |
| Bankrupt | Legal or financial term | Formally subject to bankruptcy |
| Insolvent | Financial term | Unable to meet financial obligations |
| Financially struggling | Descriptive expression | Having difficulty meeting financial needs |
| Down and out | Idiom | Facing serious personal or financial hardship |
| On a tight budget | Related expression | Having limited money to spend |
| Overdrawn | Banking term | Having a bank account balance below zero |
| In debt | Related financial term | Owing money to someone |
Not every entry is a direct synonym. The first group contains common alternatives for everyday use. The remaining terms describe specific financial conditions, levels of hardship, or related situations.
Synonyms for Broke: Meanings and Examples
Penniless
Meaning: Having no money at all.
Category: Close synonym.
Examples:
- He was penniless after losing his job.
- She arrived in the city with almost no money and soon became penniless.
Flat Broke
Meaning: Having absolutely no money.
Category: Informal expression.
Examples:
- I’m flat broke until Friday.
- He was flat broke after paying his rent.
Short of Cash
Meaning: Not having enough money available for current needs.
Category: Informal expression.
Examples:
- I’m short of cash this week.
- We were short of cash after paying the bills.
Strapped for Cash
Meaning: Having little money available for immediate expenses.
Category: Informal expression.
Examples:
- I’m strapped for cash until payday.
- The family was strapped for cash after an unexpected repair.
Cash-Strapped
Meaning: Having limited money available to cover expenses.
Category: Informal alternative.
Examples:
- The cash-strapped school postponed its repairs.
- Our small business is cash-strapped this month.
Read More: Synonyms for Rooted: Alternatives, Meanings, and Examples
Hard Up
Meaning: Experiencing financial difficulty or lacking money.
Category: Informal expression.
Examples:
- We were hard up during the winter.
- He’s hard up until his next paycheck.
Poor
Meaning: Having little money or limited resources.
Category: Context-dependent alternative.
Examples:
- He grew up in a poor family.
- The program helps poor communities access food.
Poor often describes a broader or longer-term financial situation than broke.
Skint
Meaning: Having no money or very little money.
Category: British informal expression.
Examples:
- I’m skint until Friday.
- They were skint after paying for the trip.
Skint is common in British informal English. In American English, broke and short of cash are more familiar.
Broke as a Joke
Meaning: A humorous way to say that someone has no money.
Category: Informal, humorous expression.
Examples:
- I’m broke as a joke after that vacation.
- We broke up as a joke in college.
This playful phrase suits casual conversation, not most formal writing.
Without Money
Meaning: Having no money available.
Category: Descriptive expression.
Examples:
- He left home without money or a credit card.
- The travelers were left without money after their wallets were stolen.
Without money is a natural alternative when you want clear, neutral wording.
Read More: Synonyms for Tale: 30 Alternatives and Related Words
Destitute
Meaning: Extremely poor and lacking basic needs such as food, shelter, or clothing.
Category: Related financial term.
Examples:
- The disaster left many families destitute.
- The charity provides shelter for destitute people.
Destitute describes much more severe hardship than an ordinary shortage of spending money.
Impoverished
Meaning: Made poor or left with very limited financial resources.
Category: Related financial term.
Examples:
- The crisis left many families impoverished.
- Years of conflict impoverished the region.
Impoverished often describes communities, populations, or people affected by long-term hardship.
Indigent
Meaning: Extremely poor and unable to afford basic necessities.
Category: Formal financial term.
Examples:
- The clinic provides care for indigent patients.
- The program offers legal help to indigent people.
Indigent is mainly used in formal, legal, and social-service contexts rather than casual conversation.
Bankrupt
Meaning: Legally subject to a bankruptcy process because debts cannot be managed or repaid as required.
Category: Legal or financial term.
Examples:
- The company went bankrupt after years of losses.
- The business filed for bankruptcy last year.
The exact legal meaning depends on the applicable law. Being temporarily broke does not automatically mean a person or business is bankrupt.
Insolvent
Meaning: Unable to meet financial obligations as they come due, or otherwise meeting the applicable definition of insolvency.
Category: Financial term.
Examples:
- The company became insolvent after its losses grew.
- The court examined whether the business was insolvent.
Insolvent is more technical than broke and is commonly used in financial and legal discussions.
Financially Struggling
Meaning: Having difficulty paying bills or meeting financial needs.
Category: Descriptive expression.
Examples:
- The family is struggling to keep up with its monthly bills.
- Many small businesses are struggling financially.
This phrase describes financial difficulty without necessarily suggesting that someone has no money at all.
Read More: Synonyms for Until: 30 Words With Meaning and Examples
Down and Out
Meaning: Experiencing serious personal or financial hardship.
Category: Idiom.
Examples:
- The shelter helps people who are down and out.
- He felt down and out after losing his job and home.
This expression suggests broader hardship, not simply having no spending money.
On a Tight Budget
Meaning: Having a limited amount of money available to spend.
Category: Related expression.
Examples:
- We’re on a tight budget this month.
- She planned an affordable trip while on a tight budget.
Someone on a tight budget may still have money, so this expression is not an exact synonym for broke.
Overdrawn
Meaning: Having a bank account balance below zero, usually because payments or withdrawals exceed the available balance.
Category: Banking term.
Examples:
- My checking account is overdrawn.
- Her account became overdrawn after several payments cleared.
Overdrawn describes a bank account, not a person’s overall financial status.
In Debt
Meaning: Owing money to a person, company, or lender.
Category: Related financial term.
Examples:
- He is in debt after taking out several loans.
- The family worked hard to get out of debt.
Being in debt does not necessarily mean being broke. Someone can owe money and still have cash available.
Read More: Synonyms for Circle: 30 Alternatives, Shapes, and Related Terms
Which Synonym for Broke Should You Use?
Choose the word or expression that best matches the situation.
| Situation | Best Choice | Example |
| Having no money at all | Penniless, flat broke | I’m flat broke until payday. |
| Lacking enough money for expenses | Short of cash, strapped for cash | We’re short of cash this week. |
| Having limited spending money | On a tight budget | We’re on a tight budget this month. |
| Experiencing severe poverty | Destitute, impoverished | The disaster left families destitute. |
| Facing serious financial obligations | Insolvent, bankrupt | The company became insolvent. |
| Owing money | In debt | He is in debt after taking out a loan. |
| Having a bank account below zero | Overdrawn | My account is overdrawn. |
Broke vs. Poor
Broke often describes a temporary lack of spending money. Poor usually refers to having little money or limited resources more broadly.
- “I’m broke until payday” describes a current financial problem.
- “The program supports poor families” describes a broader economic situation.
The words overlap, but they are not interchangeable in every context.
Broke vs. Penniless
Both words can describe having no money, but they differ in tone. Broke is common in casual conversation, while penniless can sound more formal or descriptive.
- “I’m broke after paying rent.”
- “He was penniless after losing everything.”
Bankrupt vs. Broke
Broke is informal and often refers to a person’s available spending money. Bankrupt has a specific legal meaning connected with a formal bankruptcy process.
- “I’m broke until Friday.”
- “The company filed for bankruptcy.”
Do not use bankruptcy merely because someone has temporarily run out of money.
Broke vs. In Debt
Broke means having little or no money available to spend. In debt means owing money.
- “I’m broke until payday.”
- “I’m in debt because I still owe money on my car.”
A person can be in debt without being broke, and someone can be broke without owing anyone money.
Broke vs. Broken
Broke can mean having no money and is also the past tense of break. Broken usually describes something damaged or no longer working.
- “I’m broke until payday.”
- “I broke my phone yesterday.”
- “My phone is broken.”
In standard American English, use broken to describe a damaged object.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the closest synonym for broke?
Penniless is a close synonym when broke means having no money. Flat broke is another natural option in informal American English.
What is a polite way to say broke?
You can say “I’m short of cash,” “I’m on a tight budget,” or “I can’t afford that right now.” These expressions can sound more tactful in everyday conversations.
Is broke the same as poor?
No. Broke often describes a temporary lack of money, while poor can describe a longer-term lack of money or resources. The words overlap but are not interchangeable in every situation.
What is a formal word for broke?
Penniless can work in formal writing when someone has no money. Impoverished describes serious financial hardship, while insolvent refers to an inability to meet financial obligations under the relevant financial or legal definition.
Is being broke the same as being in debt?
No. Being broke means having little or no money available to spend, while being in debt means owing money. A person can experience either situation or both at the same time.
Conclusion
The right alternative to broke depends on the financial situation you want to describe. Penniless, flat broke, and short of cash work well in everyday English, while destitute, bankrupt, and insolvent describe more specific conditions. Understanding these differences helps you choose accurate words for conversations, essays, emails, and blog posts.
Rafaqat Ali is the founder of RankVorexa, a vocabulary-focused website dedicated to synonyms, word meanings, and better English word choices. He creates simple, useful, and easy-to-understand content to help students, writers, bloggers, and English learners improve their vocabulary and writing skills.
