bankrupt
In a financial sense, this term carries a heavy legal weight, often implying a formal court declaration of insolvency rather than just a temporary lack of funds. It suggests a total collapse of credit and the inability to meet obligations, evoking a sense of finality and failure.
When used figuratively to describe character or ideology, it suggests a hollow shell where values once existed. This usage is almost always pejorative, painting the subject as devoid of integrity or intellectual substance, often used in political or ethical critiques to signal a complete lack of merit.
Meanings
Unable to pay outstanding debts; legally declared insolvent.
The company went bankrupt after the market crash.
Completely lacking in a particular quality, value, or moral standard.
The politician was described as morally bankrupt.
To reduce someone or an organization to a state of financial insolvency.
The expensive lawsuit threatened to bankrupt the small firm.