downtrodden

adjective

down·​trod·​den ˈdau̇n-ˈträ-dᵊn How to pronounce downtrodden (audio)
: suffering oppression

Examples of downtrodden in a Sentence

They were poor and downtrodden. a war that was supposed to liberate the downtrodden citizens of that nation
Recent Examples on the Web Even when the script tips into melodrama, Mulligan is reliably brilliant as a downtrodden woman experiencing a political awakening. Janey Tracey, EW.com, 29 Feb. 2024 Rozier, reflecting on another loss in a yet another season season filled with them, was downtrodden and tired of the defeats and injuries piling up. Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 12 Feb. 2024 The Lions have historically been so downtrodden that the team late during the 1991 season celebrated being in first place in the division. Mike Freeman, USA TODAY, 16 Jan. 2024 Movies Our critics pick their highlights and lowlights from the Cannes Film Festival May 24, 2023 Ceylan’s films enrapture on the big screen, where the vastness of Anatolia’s barren, majestic exteriors dwarf his downtrodden characters’ personal dramas. Tim Grierson, Los Angeles Times, 22 Feb. 2024 In Grill Point, there’s a recurring joke where downtrodden protagonist Uwe (Axel Prahl) keeps stumbling across a group of buskers, who appear to multiply with each encounter. Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Feb. 2024 And what better way could Mayfield cap a career resurrection than a big game against the league’s most downtrodden team than putting up big numbers and leaving little doubt as to who the Kings of the South – not saying much, exactly, in 2023 – are. USA TODAY, 5 Jan. 2024 Gradually, our beautiful community became so downtrodden it was dubbed the Pork ‘n Beans Project. Bea. L. Hines, Miami Herald, 9 Feb. 2024 His reputation as an undersized power forward who dominated the post gave a downtrodden generation an idol on which to latch; Milojevic embodied the underdog grit and tenacity Serbians saw in themselves. Shayna Rubin, The Mercury News, 19 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'downtrodden.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1597, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of downtrodden was in 1597

Dictionary Entries Near downtrodden

Cite this Entry

“Downtrodden.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/downtrodden. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

downtrodden

adjective
down·​trod·​den ˈdau̇n-ˈträd-ᵊn How to pronounce downtrodden (audio)
: crushed by superior power

More from Merriam-Webster on downtrodden

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