canaille

noun

Definition of canaillenext
as in proletarian

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for canaille
  1. proletarian
  2. plebeian
  3. commoner
  4. peasant
Noun
  • On the one hand, the proletarian contributes every bit of on-the-clock activity to the value of the resulting commodity.
    — Benjamin Kunkel, Harpers Magazine, 28 Mar. 2025
  • The song, now considered a protest anthem, is about a social revolution in which French proletarians stand against the ruling class — in this case, an oppressive monarchy.
    — Raven Brunner, People.com, 24 Feb. 2025
Definition of proletarian
Noun
  • So much for plebeians like myself, who tended to plants at a local nursery for minimum wage at 17.
    — Chris Branch, New York Times, 29 May 2025
  • Its practical function: No one, neither courtier nor plebeian, could stand close to the queen, conspicuous in her splendid isolation.
    — Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 17 Dec. 2024
Definition of plebeian
Noun
  • The original 67-member royal household shrank to 16, a contraction exacerbated by the requirement that female members must leave the imperial family after marrying a commoner.
    — Hanako Montgomery, CNN Money, 14 July 2026
  • He’s been called a thief, a benefactor, a commoner, a lord, a killer and a hero.
    — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 18 June 2026
Definition of commoner
Noun
  • The narrative centers on the early careers and shifting dynamic between legendary figures Cao Cao and Yuan Shao as political corruption, peasant rebellions, and personal ambitions push the capital of Luoyang into absolute chaos.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 13 July 2026
  • Those immigration conditions led to decades of stateside stereotypes of Italians as poor and violent and their diet ridiculed as peasant grub.
    — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026
Definition of peasant
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Cite this Entry

“Canaille.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/canaille. Accessed 20 Jul. 2026.

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