Downtrodden: meaning, definitions and examples

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downtrodden

 

[ daʊnˈtrɒdən ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

feeling oppressed

Feeling oppressed or treated badly by people in power. It describes someone who has been mistreated or abused.

Synonyms

exploited, maltreated, oppressed

Examples of usage

  • They are the downtrodden masses who have long suffered under the oppressive regime.
  • The downtrodden workers finally stood up for their rights and demanded fair treatment.
Context #2 | Adjective

subdued

Having a defeated or submissive attitude, often as a result of harsh treatment or circumstances.

Synonyms

defeated, subdued, submissive

Examples of usage

  • She looked downtrodden after receiving the bad news about her job.
  • The downtrodden expression on his face revealed the struggles he had been facing.

Translations

Translations of the word "downtrodden" in other languages:

🇵🇹 oprimido

🇮🇳 दबाया हुआ

🇩🇪 unterdrückt

🇮🇩 tertekan

🇺🇦 приниження

🇵🇱 uciskany

🇯🇵 抑圧された

🇫🇷 opprimé

🇪🇸 oprimido

🇹🇷 ezilen

🇰🇷 억압받는

🇸🇦 مضطهد

🇨🇿 utlačovaný

🇸🇰 utláčaný

🇨🇳 被压迫的

🇸🇮 zatiran

🇮🇸 ofbeldur

🇰🇿 зәбірленген

🇬🇪 დახშული

🇦🇿 sıxışdırılmış

🇲🇽 oprimido

Word origin

The word 'downtrodden' originated from the verb 'tread' which means to step on or crush something underfoot. The prefix 'down-' was added to emphasize the idea of oppression or subjugation. The term has been used since the 18th century to describe the marginalized and oppressed members of society who have been treated unfairly or harshly by those in power.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #26,084, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.