Definition of downtroddennext
as in oppressed
suffering grave abuse or injustice at the hands of one in authority a war that was supposed to liberate the downtrodden citizens of that nation

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of downtrodden My resting face is downtrodden. Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 21 June 2026 Deutch's Gail enlists the help of Otto (Miles Gutierrez-Riley), Caleb (Wang), Vincent (Ken Marino) and John Slattery (playing a hilariously downtrodden version of himself) to track down Hamm in his home turf of Hollywood. Jack Smart, PEOPLE, 27 May 2026 Last week, a CNN poll showed Americans broadly feel downtrodden about their financial situations. David Goldman, CNN Money, 21 May 2026 And the dejected diehard of a downtrodden franchise isn’t truly stuck in a one-sided detrimental relationship. Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 11 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for downtrodden
Recent Examples of Synonyms for downtrodden
oppressed
Adjective
  • At the end, there’s a message in the credits which says that this film is dedicated to those who are oppressed and that your time will come.
    Alex Ritman, Variety, 13 July 2026
  • The Irish were the original oppressed people from the English Empire, and the original colony.
    Dan Adler, Vanity Fair, 15 May 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Downtrodden.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/downtrodden. Accessed 4 Aug. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on downtrodden

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster