bottom-feeder

noun

bot·​tom-feed·​er ˈbä-təm-ˌfē-dər How to pronounce bottom-feeder (audio)
1
: a fish that feeds at the bottom
2
: one that is of the lowest status or rank
3
: an opportunist who seeks quick profit usually at the expense of others or from their misfortune
bottom-feeding adjective

Examples of bottom-feeder in a Sentence

that bottom-feeder would run over his own mother if it would help him get ahead in his career
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Since winning at Boise State on Jan. 4 and blowing out Air Force at home four days later, the season had become a grind – a double-digit loss at New Mexico, a rare home loss against UNLV, a string of ugly wins against the Mountain West’s bottom-feeders after overcoming dangerously large deficits. Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Feb. 2025 The Dawgs have lost seven of nine, and their only two wins in that span are at home against the two SEC bottom-feeders, South Carolina and LSU. Jim Root, The Athletic, 13 Feb. 2025 Along with Dan Campbell, Glenn helped Detroit go from bottom-feeders to Super Bowl contenders. Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 24 Jan. 2025 This wasn’t the Toronto Raptors, Washington Wizards, Utah Jazz or other bottom-feeder team the New York Knicks have faced in recent weeks. James L. Edwards Iii, The Athletic, 4 Jan. 2025 He’s been a significant reason the Penguins have gone from a bottom-feeder going into Thanksgiving week to a postseason contender heading into the New Year. Rob Rossi, The Athletic, 28 Dec. 2024 Stock way down Cody Ceci, Klim Kostin Going from a Stanley Cup finalist in Edmonton to a recent bottom-feeder with San Jose was going to do a number on Ceci’s metrics. Eric Stephens, The Athletic, 22 Nov. 2024 Rachel reconnects with Sam, her fellow bottom-feeder, and completely bungles the conversation. Emma Sharpe, Vulture, 13 Nov. 2024 Baylor could be described as a longtime bottom-feeder on the rise when CU left the Big 12. Sarah Kelly, The Denver Post, 20 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1851, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of bottom-feeder was in 1851

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Cite this Entry

“Bottom-feeder.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bottom-feeder. Accessed 28 Feb. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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