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
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Recent Examples of downtrodden
The reportedly downtrodden facility is also where Luigi Mangione, accused of murdering United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson, is imprisoned.
—
Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 23 Sep. 2025
The group has managed over the years to tie the issue of its weapons to its own identity and the very fate of the once-downtrodden Lebanese Shia community.
—Bilal Y. Saab, Time, 18 Sep. 2025
Beneath Grisham’s pen, Dot Black was a blue-collar chain-smoker meant to stand in for all downtrodden Southern whites.
—Graham Hillard, The Washington Examiner, 5 Sep. 2025
Those ticket sales would be a huge boon to movie theater owners after the all-important summer stretch ended on a downtrodden note.
—Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 3 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for downtrodden
Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 23 Sep. 2025
The group has managed over the years to tie the issue of its weapons to its own identity and the very fate of the once-downtrodden Lebanese Shia community.
—Bilal Y. Saab, Time, 18 Sep. 2025
Beneath Grisham’s pen, Dot Black was a blue-collar chain-smoker meant to stand in for all downtrodden Southern whites.
—Graham Hillard, The Washington Examiner, 5 Sep. 2025
Those ticket sales would be a huge boon to movie theater owners after the all-important summer stretch ended on a downtrodden note.
—Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 3 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for downtrodden
Recent Examples of Synonyms for downtrodden
oppressed
Adjective
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The song had an aggressive, staccato beat and vocal delivery; the general theme was Michael as an oppressed underdog fighting back.—
Dan Beck,
Variety,
21 Oct. 2025
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One of the reasons why Muslims fast during Ramadan is to remember those who are oppressed or suffering, and to share in those emotions.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
13 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Downtrodden.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/downtrodden. Accessed 15 Nov. 2025.
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