bottom feeder

or bot·tom-feed·er

[ bot-uhm fee-der ]

See synonyms for bottom feeder on Thesaurus.com

noun

bottom fish.
an opportunist, as in politics or business: bottom feeders who buy up commercial failures.

a person or thing having low status or value; loser: bottom feeders hanging out in seedy bars.
a person who appeals to base instincts: Gossip columnists are the bottom feeders of journalism.

Origin of bottom feeder

First recorded in 1850–55

Sometimes bot·tom-fish·er [bot-uhm-fish-er] /ˈbɒt əmˌfɪʃ ər/ (defs. 2-4) .

Words Nearby bottom feeder

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use bottom feeder in a sentence

There are no recent titles to lure prospective players, but Locksley believes this program, recently a bottom feeder in the Big Ten, has an “unlimited ceiling.”
Maryland football should benefit after its young players had to grow up fast last season | Emily Giambalvo | April 22, 2021 | Washington Post
Many comedians have rejected the bro code and pushed back against resorting to bottom-feeder rape punchlines for cheap laughs.
Louis C.K. on Daniel Tosh’s Rape Joke: Are Comedy and Feminism Enemies? | Jennifer L. Pozner | July 18, 2012 | THE DAILY BEAST
It is very largely a bottom feeder and, therefore, rather of a sluggish nature.
Game Birds and Game Fishes of the Pacific Coast | Harry Thom Payne
As it is a bottom feeder a sinker must be used to keep the bait at the proper depth.
Bass, Pike, Perch, and Others | James Alexander Henshall
The barbel projecting from the chin denotes that it is a bottom feeder.
The Sea Shore | William S. Furneaux

It is a bottom feeder, and sinkers must be used to keep the bait near the fish.
Bass, Pike, Perch, and Others | James Alexander Henshall
The bream (Pagellus centrodontus) is another bottom-feeder which resembles the fresh-water bream both in appearance and habits.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 2, Part 1, Slice 1 | Various

British Dictionary definitions for bottom feeder

bottom feeder

noun

a fish that feeds on material at the bottom of a river, lake, sea, etc
an objectionable and unimpressive person or thing

Also called: bottom fisher a speculator who buys shares in companies that are performing poorly in anticipation of improved performance

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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