stumped
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
Done for; bankrupt or ruined.
Register: archaic, slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
"Why, Walsher," said Mr. Stubber, "how many times a day do you rub your face with a brass candlestick? Why, I lent you a pony when you were stumped, and you carried off a cool hundred."
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “stumped” mean?
Done for; bankrupt or ruined.
Is “stumped” formal or informal?
stumped is generally archaic, slang.