cellar dweller
noun
sports, informal
: a last-place team : a team with the worst record in a league, conference, etc.
Northwestern University, long a cellar dweller in the Big Ten, defied all odds and went to the Rose Bowl in 1995.—
Andrew Zimbalist
Andrew Zimbalist… any team in the majors—including the cellar dwellers from the season before—has the chance to be the best in the game.—Tracy Ringolsby
Tracy RingolsbyThe Aggies have morphed from conference cellar dweller to annual contender to a program that has won 17 consecutive home games …—Ailene Voisin
Ailene VoisinExamples of cellar dweller in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Still, the scare against the conference cellar dweller coupled with a Nov. 1 loss at N.C. State has created an uneasy feeling around the Yellow Jackets, particularly with their struggling defense.
—CBS News, 21 Nov. 2025
While the Timberwolves performance against likely playoff teams has frustrated the fan base this season, Minnesota’s ability to dispose of cellar dwellers has been impressive.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 18 Nov. 2025
There’s a real chance that the Patriots, cellar dwellers the last two years, could sit at 11-2 entering an off week.
—Chad Graff, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025
The victory Friday night against the Mountain West cellar dweller added to road games that left a lot to be desired.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 25 Oct. 2025
Cue the good news: at least one NFL cellar dweller in 26 of the past 29 seasons has rebounded to make the playoffs the following season.
—Cam Inman, Mercury News, 6 Sep. 2025
Upcoming road trips to cellar dweller South Carolina (Saturday) and Arkansas (Wednesday) are both tricky but winnable.
—Jim Root, The Athletic, 20 Feb. 2025
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CBS News, 21 Nov. 2025
While the Timberwolves performance against likely playoff teams has frustrated the fan base this season, Minnesota’s ability to dispose of cellar dwellers has been impressive.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 18 Nov. 2025
There’s a real chance that the Patriots, cellar dwellers the last two years, could sit at 11-2 entering an off week.
—Chad Graff, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025
The victory Friday night against the Mountain West cellar dweller added to road games that left a lot to be desired.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 25 Oct. 2025
Cue the good news: at least one NFL cellar dweller in 26 of the past 29 seasons has rebounded to make the playoffs the following season.
—Cam Inman, Mercury News, 6 Sep. 2025
Upcoming road trips to cellar dweller South Carolina (Saturday) and Arkansas (Wednesday) are both tricky but winnable.
—Jim Root, The Athletic, 20 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cellar dweller.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cellar%20dweller. Accessed 3 Dec. 2025.
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