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 In Ayad Akhtar’s new play, McNeal, a downtrodden novelist played by Robert Downey Jr. points out that Shakespeare’s King Lear shares 70 percent of its words with a predecessor play, King Leir. Boris Kachka, The Atlantic, 18 Oct. 2024 Her husband, Marshall (Courtney B. Vance) is alive and well; her daughter Merritt (Raven Goodwin) is a doctor working to find a cure for cancer who is married to a downtrodden and disheveled Ed (Kelce). Julia Moore, People.com, 17 Oct. 2024 For Israelis—downtrodden and demoralized since October 7—the IDF’s counteroffensive recalled the 1967 Six-Day War, in which Israel also rapidly prevailed thanks to a superior air force. Aluf Benn, Foreign Affairs, 4 Oct. 2024 Through an unprecedented burst of legislative and executive activity, the New Deal redistributed political and economic power to the most downtrodden. Meg Jacobs, Foreign Affairs, 8 Dec. 2020 See all Example Sentences for downtrodden 

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 31 Oct. 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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