1
: a mat placed before or inside a door for wiping dirt from the shoes
2
: one that submits without protest to abuse or indignities
3
: a team that regularly finishes last
Examples of doormat in a Sentence
She was tired of being a doormat and decided it was time to stand up for herself.
a doormat who always gave in to his father's demands
Recent Examples on the Web
While his powerful slams and stellar play helped IU reach the NCAA Tournament in both his junior and senior years, the football team was a doormat in the Big Ten and an afterthought on campus.
—
Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 18 Jan. 2026
Keep a heavy-duty doormat outside and a washable one inside.
—Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 17 Jan. 2026
Layer a doormat, add a winter-hardy plant or swap in warmer light bulbs.
—Avery Newmark, AJC.com, 14 Jan. 2026
The forever-doormat Buffalo Sabres just had a 10-game win streak.
—Pierre Lebrun, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for doormat
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Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 18 Jan. 2026
Keep a heavy-duty doormat outside and a washable one inside.
—Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 17 Jan. 2026
Layer a doormat, add a winter-hardy plant or swap in warmer light bulbs.
—Avery Newmark, AJC.com, 14 Jan. 2026
The forever-doormat Buffalo Sabres just had a 10-game win streak.
—Pierre Lebrun, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for doormat
Cite this Entry
“Doormat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/doormat. Accessed 27 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
doormat
noun
door·mat
-ˌmat 
: a mat placed before or inside a door for wiping dirt from the shoes
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