as in clowns
a person of low social status
Those snobs treat anyone who lives on the "wrong" side of town like an insignificant peasant.
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Recent Examples of peasants
Some of us were born black, born from bad classes—the offspring of capitalists, rich peasants, counterrevolutionaries.
—
Danielle Parker, CBS News, 20 Jan. 2026
German troops and local peasants hauling military vehicles across a river bank near Moscow, 1941.
—Peter Suciu, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026
Because of France’s social structure, the bulk of the financial strain fell to its peasants, while the top 1% was virtually exempt from paying taxes.
—Serena Turner, Vanity Fair, 29 Dec. 2025
In Bulgaria, village music was typically sung by peasants while tending to agriculture and husbandry; at weddings; and to express national pride.
—Emma Madden, Pitchfork, 21 Dec. 2025
This is especially true when considering the peasants, who made up about 90% of the population.
—Bobbi Sutherland, The Conversation, 19 Dec. 2025
Loyal to the Emperor, scornful of the aristocracy, and sympathetic to the peasants’ desire for liberation, if not their bloodlust, he is torn between medieval chivalry and modern self-preservation.
—Merve Emre, New Yorker, 1 Dec. 2025
And all the while, there’s always another rousing patriotic song for the peasants to sing.
—Will Tizard, Variety, 2 Nov. 2025
In those intervening 35 years, China had moved 800 million rural peasants — living in extreme poverty on US$2 a day — into city apartments and integrated them into the global economy.
—Peter Leyden, Big Think, 7 Oct. 2025
Danielle Parker, CBS News, 20 Jan. 2026
German troops and local peasants hauling military vehicles across a river bank near Moscow, 1941.
—Peter Suciu, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026
Because of France’s social structure, the bulk of the financial strain fell to its peasants, while the top 1% was virtually exempt from paying taxes.
—Serena Turner, Vanity Fair, 29 Dec. 2025
In Bulgaria, village music was typically sung by peasants while tending to agriculture and husbandry; at weddings; and to express national pride.
—Emma Madden, Pitchfork, 21 Dec. 2025
This is especially true when considering the peasants, who made up about 90% of the population.
—Bobbi Sutherland, The Conversation, 19 Dec. 2025
Loyal to the Emperor, scornful of the aristocracy, and sympathetic to the peasants’ desire for liberation, if not their bloodlust, he is torn between medieval chivalry and modern self-preservation.
—Merve Emre, New Yorker, 1 Dec. 2025
And all the while, there’s always another rousing patriotic song for the peasants to sing.
—Will Tizard, Variety, 2 Nov. 2025
In those intervening 35 years, China had moved 800 million rural peasants — living in extreme poverty on US$2 a day — into city apartments and integrated them into the global economy.
—Peter Leyden, Big Think, 7 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for peasants
Noun
-
There are other quirky attractions here, too, like the Clown Motel, where horror enthusiasts can sleep among a collection of more than 6,500 clowns.—
Cailey Rizzo,
Travel + Leisure,
21 Jan. 2026
-
After his parents divorced, his mother took 5-year-old Salazar with her, moving from place to place around South America, and performing as clowns to make money.—
Lisa Deaderick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
17 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
From January 17 to 19, the two ski mountaineers, along with climber Brette Harrington, climbed the 11,234-foot Deltaform Mountain in eastern British Columbia.—
Frederick Dreier,
Outside,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Ski patrol, mountaineers and even the Lutsen Fire Department jumped into action and started a rope EVAC.—
Tony Peterson,
CBS News,
21 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Peasants.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/peasants. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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