bottom-feeder
noun
bot·tom-feed·er
ˈbä-təm-ˌfē-dər 
1
: a fish that feeds at the bottom
2
: one that is of the lowest status or rank
3
: an opportunist who seeks quick profit usually at the expense of others or from their misfortune
Synonyms of bottom-feeder
Examples of bottom-feeder in a Sentence
that bottom-feeder would run over his own mother if it would help him get ahead in his career
Recent Examples on the Web
Notre Dame men's hoops has become a bottom-feeder in the ACC under Micah Shrewsberry, with a losing record in each of his three seasons, and its best players bolted for better NIL opportunities in the spring.
—
Pete Sampson,
New York Times,
26 June 2026
Use worms fished right on the bottom to entice the subtle-striking bottom-feeders.
—
Chad Mason,
Outdoor Life,
3 June 2026
The best teams tend to use their resources wisely, while the bottom-feeders usually have reckless spending habits.
—
Mat Issa,
Forbes.com,
31 Mar. 2026
These sharks are thought to be bottom-feeders, preying on fish that frequent the floors of rivers and estuaries.
—
John P. Rafferty,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
13 Mar. 2026
Games against real teams will reveal far more about the Magic’s mindset than any blowout over a bottom-feeder.
—
Mike Bianchi,
The Orlando Sentinel,
21 Feb. 2026
The Mavs dwell among the Western Conference’s bottom-feeders, but no team in either conference presents the sheer volume of storylines as the outfit from Texas’ largest city.
—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
24 Dec. 2025
For nearly the first two decades of their existence, the New Orleans Saints were NFL bottom-feeders.
—
Jim Reineking,
USA Today,
11 Dec. 2025
Chicago is currently mired in a miserable seven-game losing streak, a confounding skid that includes defeats against NBA bottom-feeders like the New Orleans Pelicans, Charlotte Hornets, Indiana Pacers, and Brooklyn Nets.
—
Alex Kirschenbaum,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Dec. 2025
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Pete Sampson,
New York Times,
26 June 2026
Use worms fished right on the bottom to entice the subtle-striking bottom-feeders.
—
Chad Mason,
Outdoor Life,
3 June 2026
The best teams tend to use their resources wisely, while the bottom-feeders usually have reckless spending habits.
—
Mat Issa,
Forbes.com,
31 Mar. 2026
These sharks are thought to be bottom-feeders, preying on fish that frequent the floors of rivers and estuaries.
—
John P. Rafferty,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
13 Mar. 2026
Games against real teams will reveal far more about the Magic’s mindset than any blowout over a bottom-feeder.
—
Mike Bianchi,
The Orlando Sentinel,
21 Feb. 2026
The Mavs dwell among the Western Conference’s bottom-feeders, but no team in either conference presents the sheer volume of storylines as the outfit from Texas’ largest city.
—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
24 Dec. 2025
For nearly the first two decades of their existence, the New Orleans Saints were NFL bottom-feeders.
—
Jim Reineking,
USA Today,
11 Dec. 2025
Chicago is currently mired in a miserable seven-game losing streak, a confounding skid that includes defeats against NBA bottom-feeders like the New Orleans Pelicans, Charlotte Hornets, Indiana Pacers, and Brooklyn Nets.
—
Alex Kirschenbaum,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bottom-feeder.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bottom-feeder. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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