PLEBEIAN Synonyms: 66 Similar and Opposite Words

plebeian 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of plebeian

as in low

belonging to the class of people of low social or economic rank wondered what the people at the country club would think of his plebeian origins

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plebeian

2 of 2

noun

as in proletarian

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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 plebeian

Adjective

This one is about a regular old guy, a hedge knight in the plebeian population of Westeros, just trying to get by in a world that isn't kind to the common and poor. — Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 13 Jan. 2026 Once upon a time, a doddering old man spoke of a dream about a united city in this empire’s capital, where every man, woman, and child could walk its streets and live a good life regardless of their patrician or plebeian birthright. — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 22 Nov. 2024

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 But an unpleasant incident with a public transit plebeian leads Leighton to ponder the direction of her life. — Rachel Seo, Variety, 2 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for plebeian

Recent Examples of Synonyms for plebeian

Adjective

Although the market has adapted and prices have remained relatively low considering the historic supply shock during the war, that’s in large part because demand for oil collapsed and China drew down its massive oil stockpiles.

— David Goldman, CNN Money, 12 Aug. 2026
His velocity has continued to sink lower than his average speed in past seasons.

— Johnny Flores Jr, New York Times, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of low

Noun

Now artists, who had only recently emerged as solo entrepreneurs, reverted to their erstwhile status as proletarians—indeed, as migrant workers.

— Diedrich Diederichsen, Artforum, 1 Dec. 2025
Fundamentally, the proletarian forfeits not so much income as individual freedom and the sovereignty of his or her class.

— Benjamin Kunkel, Harpers Magazine, 28 Mar. 2025

Definition of proletarian

Adjective

But new research is shedding light on what life was like for middle- and lower-class residents.

— Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 20 July 2026
The franchise centers around a dystopian nation called Panem, where rich and authoritarian leaders force twelve lower-class districts to submit two children to fight in a deadly, and televised, battle every year.

— Nicholas Rice, PEOPLE, 11 July 2026

Definition of lower-class

Noun

In the fairytale, the princess flees to another kingdom for a while to get away from the misery brought on by her father, finding work as a commoner to conceal her identity.

— Josh Slater-Williams, IndieWire, 7 Aug. 2026
And the story was about King George IV of England, then the Prince of Wales, and his deep infatuation with a Catholic commoner, Maria Fitzherbert.

— Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Money, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of commoner

Adjective

In May 2026, Google redesigned the humble yet powerful search box.

— Parry Headrick, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
The Charlotte native was humble and patient, his coach previously told the Observer, and in 2013 became an All-American defensive lineman at JCSU — a title the school hadn’t seen since 2008.

— Julia Coin August 7, Charlotte Observer, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of humble

Noun

Instead of following his gut like some unenlightened pleb, Patrick trusts his spleen and his spleen alone.

— Laura Bradley, Vulture, 13 Aug. 2025
But because these monsters have yet to develop any fungal armor, runners are susceptible to gunshots, knives, and any other weaponry that would take out your average pleb.

— Lauren Puckett-Pope, ELLE, 20 Jan. 2023

Definition of pleb

Adjective

This is an ignoble war making monsters and fools out of its participants, and against the uncontrollable weapons that are dragons, everyone’s resolve is crumbling.

— Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 18 June 2026
The most memorable, and notorious, moment from the race was the ignoble exit of Democratic Congressman Eric Swalwell.

— Matt Fleming, Oc Register, 27 May 2026

Definition of ignoble

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“Plebeian.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plebeian. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of plebeian

adjective

noun

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