put-upon
adjective
imposed upon; ill-used.
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put-upon
American
[poot-uh-pon, -pawn]
/ ˈpʊt əˌpɒn, -ˌpɔn /
adjective
put upon
British
verb
-
to presume on (a person's generosity, good nature, etc); take advantage of
he's always being put upon
-
to impose hardship on; maltreat
Etymology
Origin of put-upon
First recorded in 1915–20
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“And so to put upon yourself that every waking minute is oriented around your kids is not a way to live.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 5, 2026
I want to emphasize the pressure that was put upon me as a new mom to take pain medication after I refused several times.
From Slate • Jan. 11, 2026
Hargitay’s siblings say that that version of Mansfield, the one who put up with being put upon, was only one layer of the mother they knew.
From Salon • Jun. 27, 2025
“You’re put upon to feel bad and be a victim so other people can use you as they see fit.”
From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2023
When his father told him about Ruth, he joined him in despising her, but he felt put upon; felt as though some burden had been given to him and that he didn’t deserve it.
From "Song of Solomon" by Toni Morrison
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
