put-upon

adjective

put-up·​on ˈpu̇t-ə-ˌpȯn How to pronounce put-upon (audio)
-ˌpän
: imposed upon : taken advantage of

Examples of put-upon in a Sentence

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.
Powell won hearts in Set It Up as Charlie, a put-upon corporate executive assistant who ends up falling for his partner-in-crime, Harper (Zoey Deutch). Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 29 Mar. 2025 Here, at least, the performers — who include Téa Leoni as Odell’s wife, the very funny Will Poulter as the Leopold son and Anthony Carrigan as a put-upon servant — have the kinds of ductile faces, rubber-band moves and vocal dexterity that can keep even sluggish material moving. Manohla Dargis, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025 In the first of his several outings as Palmer, Michael Caine is put-upon and bogged down with paperwork. Keith Phipps, Vulture, 19 Mar. 2025 Alexandre and Yelena’s arrival at the country estate managed by Vanya and Sonya, the professor’s put-upon daughter, has thrown the household into chaos. Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for put-upon

Word History

First Known Use

1866, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of put-upon was in 1866

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Cite this Entry

“Put-upon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/put-upon. Accessed 7 Apr. 2025.

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