When we talk about being cash-starved, it means that we do not have enough cash for necessary expenses. In order to express the same meaning, we can use synonyms such as cash-poor, financially challenged, broke, penniless and strapped. These words can be used interchangeably depending on the intensity of the situation. Cash-poor suggests a temporary shortage of cash, while financially challenged implies a more long-term, structural issue. Broke and penniless are more general synonyms, which can also be used for individuals who have run out of money. Strapped conveys the sense of being limited and unable to carry out financial activities. In all cases, these synonyms suggest a scarcity of cash and financial difficulties.