put-upon

[ poot-uh-pon, -pawn ]

/ ˈpʊt əˌpɒn, -ˌpɔn /

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adjective

imposed upon; ill-used.

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of put-upon

First recorded in 1915–20

Words nearby put-upon

putty powder, puttyroot, Putumayo, put-up, put-up job, put-upon, put up or shut up, put up with, put wise, put words in someone's mouth, put your foot in your mouth

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

How to use put-upon in a sentence

I was also jealous of John to be able to play the put-upon underdog character.
Justin Long Responds To Jonathan Franzen Over His ‘Mac Guy’ Criticisms|Justin Long|October 26, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The only malevolent presence in the house that night was a gang of snickering boys and one put-upon girlfriend.
A Night with The Conjuring’s Ed & Lorraine Warren|Stefan Beck|August 18, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Hand it off to a hen-pecked husband or a put-upon assistant and it can demean or belittle.
The Language of Margaret Thatcher’s Handbags|Robin Givhan|April 8, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Listen to their put-upon groans when they have to go out on the field to sign autographs during fan appreciation day.
The Unwarranted Mythology of Oscar Pistorius|Buzz Bissinger|February 15, 2013|DAILY BEAST

Reality TV has seen its fair share of put-upon husbands—Steady Eddies anchoring erratic celebrity spouses.
The Anti Jon and Kate|Emili Vesilind|September 13, 2009|DAILY BEAST
Let them open their minds to us, let them put upon permanent record the significance of all their intrigues and manœuvres.
The Salvaging Of Civilisation|H. G. (Herbert George) Wells
Before the spinet a bench was placed about four feet below the keys, and I was put upon the bench.
Gulliver's Travels|Jonathan Swift
The mother's lips could not finish the charge she was about to put upon her innocent child.
The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 3 of 4|Jane Porter
I don't want ter see ennybody put upon, nor noways sufferin', ef so be's I kin help; but thet ain't ennythin' stronary, ez I know.
Ramona|Helen Hunt Jackson
And the finger he pointed at the girl quivered with the rage that filled him at this trick they had thought to put upon him.
St. Martin's Summer|Rafael Sabatini

British Dictionary definitions for put-upon

put upon

verb (intr, preposition, usually passive)

to presume on (a person's generosity, good nature, etc); take advantage ofhe's always being put upon

to impose hardship on; maltreat

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