doormat

noun

door·​mat ˈdȯr-ˌmat 

1

: a mat placed before or inside a door for wiping dirt from the shoes

2

: one that submits without protest to abuse or indignities

3

: a team that regularly finishes last

Synonyms

• jellyfish
• namby-pamby
• pushover
• reed
• weakling
• wimp

Examples of doormat in a Sentence

She was tired of being a doormat and decided it was time to stand up for herself.

a doormat who always gave in to his father's demands

Recent Examples on the Web

Not everybody is going to be content to be a doormat the way Congress is. —Graham Underwood, arkansasonline.com, 17 Mar. 2025

The cats have left one now and then on our doormat, but those rats are dead as dead can be. —Ticked Off, Orlando Sentinel, 14 Mar. 2025

As the ordinary woman who ultimately gains awareness and develops from doormat to defiant, the expressive Cortellesi is excellent. —Alissa Simon, Variety, 6 Mar. 2025

In the video, the black and white doormat looked miniscule as it was draped over the huge cardboard box. —Alyce Collins, Newsweek, 20 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1665, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for doormat

• begat
• bobcat
• chitchat
• ducat
• eclat
• format
• hazmat
• muskrat
• nonfat
• polecat
• thereat
• tomcat

Kids Definition

doormat

noun

door·​mat -ˌmat 

: a mat placed before or inside a door for wiping dirt from the shoes