underdog
noun
un·der·dog
ˈən-dər-ˌdȯg 
1
: a loser or predicted loser in a struggle or contest
… the biggest obstacle has been the adjustment from underdog last season to contender …—
Mike Wise
Mike Wise2
: a victim of injustice or persecution
… portrayed himself as an honest underdog that the Government would do anything to stop.—Michael Specter
Michael SpecterExamples of underdog in a Sentence
I always root for the underdog instead of the favorite.
As a lawyer, she consistently represented the underdog.
Recent Examples on the Web
The Hurricanes are a nine-and-a-half-point underdog against Ohio State, according to Odds Shark as of Tuesday morning.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 30 Dec. 2025
Rescued by Ruby is a treat for animal lovers, but also ideal for anyone who loves a good underdog story.
—Andrew Walsh, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Dec. 2025
Five contestants had the Cowboys available and picked them, and the five others had to put their multimillion-dollar hopes on the line with an underdog.
—Jim Barnes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Dec. 2025
Part of a long tradition of both David and Goliath adaptations and illustrated renditions of Judeo-Christian allegories, the new musical drama is Angel Studio’s latest take on the iconic underdog story and a wholesome way to spend your afternoon.
—Elaina Patton, IndieWire, 22 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for underdog
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Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 30 Dec. 2025
Rescued by Ruby is a treat for animal lovers, but also ideal for anyone who loves a good underdog story.
—Andrew Walsh, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Dec. 2025
Five contestants had the Cowboys available and picked them, and the five others had to put their multimillion-dollar hopes on the line with an underdog.
—Jim Barnes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Dec. 2025
Part of a long tradition of both David and Goliath adaptations and illustrated renditions of Judeo-Christian allegories, the new musical drama is Angel Studio’s latest take on the iconic underdog story and a wholesome way to spend your afternoon.
—Elaina Patton, IndieWire, 22 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for underdog
Cite this Entry
“Underdog.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/underdog. Accessed 2 Jan. 2026.
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underdog
noun
un·der·dog
ˈən-dər-ˌdȯg
: the loser or predicted loser in a struggle
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