Downtrodden

Downtrodden describes a person or group of people who are oppressed, treated unfairly, and subjected to hardship or misery by a more powerful force or system. This often involves a lack of power, agency, and the ability to improve one's circumstances. The state of being downtrodden is characterized by feelings of hopelessness, despair, and a sense of being perpetually subjugated. It highlights the injustice of an unequal power dynamic and the resulting suffering. The term often evokes sympathy for those bearing the brunt of such oppression, emphasizing their vulnerability and the need for social justice and reform. It can relate to various situations, including poverty, discrimination, political repression, and social marginalization.

Downtrodden meaning with examples

• The novel depicted the lives of the downtrodden laborers forced to work under brutal conditions in the coal mines. Their struggles to survive and provide for their families were heart-wrenching, highlighting the systemic oppression they faced. The author used vivid descriptions to portray their impoverished lives and the constant threat of injury and death. The narrative sought to expose the injustice and the urgent need for reform.
• The civil rights movement aimed to liberate the downtrodden African Americans from the shackles of segregation and discrimination. For generations, they had been denied equal rights and subjected to dehumanizing treatment. Through nonviolent protests and courageous acts of defiance, they fought for their dignity and the opportunity to live in a society that valued their humanity, and the importance of fighting for equality.
• The policies of the autocratic regime left the majority of the population downtrodden and living in fear. Basic human rights were violated, and dissent was brutally suppressed. Freedom of speech and assembly were nonexistent, and citizens lived under constant surveillance, so the feeling of hopelessness became the normal way of life. The regime’s oppression resulted in widespread poverty and a pervasive sense of powerlessness.
• The refugee camp housed thousands of downtrodden individuals who had fled their war-torn homeland. They carried with them the emotional scars of violence and loss, their current circumstances left them without shelter, food, or the security of their homes. Organizations worked to provide humanitarian aid, but the sheer scale of the suffering highlighted the global responsibility to address the causes of such displacement and human suffering.