as in low
belonging to the class of people of low social or economic rank
a self-made Internet magnate who is not at all ashamed of his proletarian background
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as in plebeian
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Recent Examples of proletarian
Raven Brunner, People.com, 24 Feb. 2025
Later in the novel, Hans’s mind turns to the brutality of occupation: If in the course of a five-day plan, 200,000 Berliners were removed by 50,000, these 50,000 proletarians would be fused into a collective by the shock of having killed.
—Rumaan Alam, The New Republic, 21 June 2023
As a proudly class-conscious proletarian, Martin is naturally supportive of worker strikes.
—J. Hoberman, The New York Review of Books, 22 Oct. 2020
Yet modern liberalism fits the modern world of high human capital better than the old rightish model of dim-witted peasants properly led by the aristocracy or the old leftish model of gormless proletarians properly led by The Party.
—The Economist, 8 Jan. 2020
Owing to the extensive use of machinery and to division of labour, the work of the proletarians has lost all individual character, and, consequently, all charm for the workman.
—Tristram Hunt, WSJ, 25 Jan. 2019
The proletarians have nothing to lose but their chains.
—Erik Kirschbaum, latimes.com, 3 May 2018
Unlike the proletarians whom Karl Marx exhorted to shed their chains, most people have rather a lot to lose.
—Yascha Mounk, Slate Magazine, 16 Mar. 2017
What if a roving band of mutant proletarians suddenly shows up at the front door?
—John Carl Baker, New Republic, 14 July 2017
Noun
The song, now considered a protest anthem, is about a social revolution in which French proletarians stand against the ruling class — in this case, an oppressive monarchy.
—Raven Brunner, People.com, 24 Feb. 2025
Later in the novel, Hans’s mind turns to the brutality of occupation: If in the course of a five-day plan, 200,000 Berliners were removed by 50,000, these 50,000 proletarians would be fused into a collective by the shock of having killed.
—Rumaan Alam, The New Republic, 21 June 2023
As a proudly class-conscious proletarian, Martin is naturally supportive of worker strikes.
—J. Hoberman, The New York Review of Books, 22 Oct. 2020
Yet modern liberalism fits the modern world of high human capital better than the old rightish model of dim-witted peasants properly led by the aristocracy or the old leftish model of gormless proletarians properly led by The Party.
—The Economist, 8 Jan. 2020
Owing to the extensive use of machinery and to division of labour, the work of the proletarians has lost all individual character, and, consequently, all charm for the workman.
—Tristram Hunt, WSJ, 25 Jan. 2019
The proletarians have nothing to lose but their chains.
—Erik Kirschbaum, latimes.com, 3 May 2018
Unlike the proletarians whom Karl Marx exhorted to shed their chains, most people have rather a lot to lose.
—Yascha Mounk, Slate Magazine, 16 Mar. 2017
What if a roving band of mutant proletarians suddenly shows up at the front door?
—John Carl Baker, New Republic, 14 July 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for proletarian
Adjective
-
Despite multiple promising routines in the practice sessions, Lee’s low score of 11.800 was not enough to send the Olympic Champion to Azerbaijan.—
Caroline Price,
Forbes,
21 Mar. 2025
-
But after spending most of the day under low stratus clouds, patchy fog and coastal drizzle caused by onshore flow, New Yorkers will likely need an umbrella for the evening hours, as a cold front coming from the west is expected to dump up to three-quarters of an inch of rain.—
Muri Assunção,
New York Daily News,
20 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Its practical function: No one, neither courtier nor plebeian, could stand close to the queen, conspicuous in her splendid isolation.—
Christopher Knight,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Dec. 2024
-
But an unpleasant incident with a public transit plebeian leads Leighton to ponder the direction of her life.—
Rachel Seo,
Variety,
2 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
Yet Empire Falls translates into a lumpen, stodgy miniseries, despite a fine central performance from Harris as a divorced diner owner with deep roots in the town and a structure that allows the past to keep informing and enriching the present.—
Scott Tobias,
Vulture,
14 Apr. 2024
-
Rhys spent decades, often isolated and paranoid, in lumpen houses and apartments in and out of London, before success arrived late.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
20 June 2022
Noun
-
In the past few centuries, land has changed hands on major scales: from nobles to commoners during the French Revolution, from Native peoples to European settlers in North America, and from the wealthy to the poor in China, Russia, and Mexico.—
The New Yorker,
The New Yorker,
10 Feb. 2025
-
Of course, the couture and Paris go hand in hand, so WWD Weekend also looks at a way even commoners can enjoy a feast meant for royalty thanks to Alain Ducasse, or the lucky can stay in the private apartment of one of the City of Light’s premier restaurants, La Tour d’Argent.—
James Fallon,
WWD,
22 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Sometimes those simple, humble, short-on-ingredients dishes are some of our most cherished.—
Nellah Bailey McGough,
Southern Living,
22 Mar. 2025
-
Articulate yet humble in interviews, Coleman is the ultimate team player on the court and the biggest supporter of his teammates off it.—
Matt Le Cren,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Occasionally, like tonight, a chiseled pleb or square-jawed gym owner will pass muster, taking her to some exclusive club in Tribeca.—
Seija Rankin,
EW.com,
29 Apr. 2021
-
But because these monsters have yet to develop any fungal armor, runners are susceptible to gunshots, knives, and any other weaponry that would take out your average pleb.—
Lauren Puckett-Pope,
ELLE,
20 Jan. 2023
Adjective
-
For their efforts, the scientists found that ice has a much harder time sticking to unwashed, greasy polar bear hair than to oily human hair.—
Sara Hashemi,
Smithsonian Magazine,
31 Jan. 2025
-
Here the West is unwashed — muddy, bloody, cold and mean.—
Alexis Soloski,
New York Times,
3 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
The husky Black man from the Bronx toiled for every inch of respect, beset by toxicity and misinformation, as hairy white folk-rock and boogie-band alumni pushed similar buttons to become the de facto bards of the everyman.—
Craig Jenkins,
Vulture,
2 Jan. 2025
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Tough guy, everyman:Gene Hackman pursued anonymity and a private artist life in Santa Fe Hackman and Arakawa were devoted dog lovers Gaber met Hackman and Arakawa more than 18 years ago, when the couple learned of Gaber’s ability to improve animals’ health through chiropractic adjustments.—
Rick Jervis,
USA TODAY,
3 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Proletarian.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/proletarian. Accessed 31 Mar. 2025.
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