as in low
belonging to the class of people of low social or economic rank
wondered what the people at the country club would think of his plebeian origins
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in proletarian
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of plebeian
James Grebey, Vulture, 22 Nov. 2024
The first is the secession of the plebeians, where commoners staged a walkout in protest of unfair treatment by the ruling class.
—Phil Kirschner, Forbes, 3 Nov. 2024
Sonia Rao, Washington Post, 21 Nov. 2023
View Photos These plebeian sedans don't exhibit the manic price inflation seen in much of the automotive market.
—Joey Capparella, Car and Driver, 4 Aug. 2023
See All Example Sentences for plebeian
Adjective
In the days of the Roman Empire, plebeians and patricians alike entertained themselves by watching men fight to the death.
—James Grebey, Vulture, 22 Nov. 2024
The first is the secession of the plebeians, where commoners staged a walkout in protest of unfair treatment by the ruling class.
—Phil Kirschner, Forbes, 3 Nov. 2024
Noun
Skeptics might shrug their shoulders at this plebeian fare.
—Sonia Rao, Washington Post, 21 Nov. 2023
View Photos These plebeian sedans don't exhibit the manic price inflation seen in much of the automotive market.
—Joey Capparella, Car and Driver, 4 Aug. 2023
See All Example Sentences for plebeian
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plebeian
Adjective
-
Designed as federal programs to assist the elderly, disabled individuals and those with low income, both have grown into the largest sources of health care coverage in the country.—
Jasmine Laws,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 July 2025
-
Keep clear of puddles - Driving through puddles or low rainwater areas can cause vehicles to hydroplane or skid out of control Give ample space to large vehicles - Trucks or buses can create a water spray that diminishes visibility.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
30 July 2025
Noun
-
Fundamentally, the proletarian forfeits not so much income as individual freedom and the sovereignty of his or her class.—
Benjamin Kunkel,
Harpers Magazine,
28 Mar. 2025
-
On the one hand, the proletarian contributes every bit of on-the-clock activity to the value of the resulting commodity.—
Benjamin Kunkel,
Harpers Magazine,
28 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Once reserved for aristocrats, these menageries opened to the public in the 17th and 18th centuries; commoners could also attend performances hosted by itinerant showmen who traveled from town to town with exotic species in tow.—
Shoshi Parks,
Smithsonian Magazine,
20 June 2025
-
Born on a New York farm in 1821, Youmans didn’t come from a notable family or attend elite schools —his name even derives from yeoman, a self-reliant commoner.—
Sabrina Schaeffer,
Oc Register,
4 July 2025
Adjective
-
During the Depression, smart cooks came up with a way to make a delicious, family-friendly dessert that required the most humble ingredients.—
Patricia S York,
Southern Living,
2 Aug. 2025
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Today, the humble spud is the world’s third most important staple crop, providing critical calorie intake for billions of people.—
Jay Kakade
July 31,
New Atlas,
31 July 2025
Noun
-
Occasionally, like tonight, a chiseled pleb or square-jawed gym owner will pass muster, taking her to some exclusive club in Tribeca.—
Seija Rankin,
EW.com,
29 Apr. 2021
-
But because these monsters have yet to develop any fungal armor, runners are susceptible to gunshots, knives, and any other weaponry that would take out your average pleb.—
Lauren Puckett-Pope,
ELLE,
20 Jan. 2023
Adjective
-
My focus is down to the ignoble little health annoyances that seem to cap and even eclipse a major setback.—
John Updike,
New Yorker,
11 July 2025
-
O’Neal credits the playgrounds of his childhood with giving him instincts on the court and helping instill the resilience to endure what felt like an ignoble start to his career.—
Jay Caspian Kang,
New Yorker,
23 June 2025
Adjective
-
Giuliano Gemma stars as Scott, a lowly street sweeper whose status starts to change when Frank Talby (Lee Van Cleef, an American actor whose career got a second act thanks to Spaghetti Westerns) takes him under his wing.—
Keith Phipps,
Vulture,
18 July 2025
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The next chance for the Twins to complete a sweep will come this weekend with the lowly Pittsburgh Pirates coming to town.—
Dane Mizutani,
Twin Cities,
10 July 2025
Noun
-
Odenkirk once again stars as Hutch Mansell, a suburban everyman whose hidden assassin skills kicked into gear following a home invasion.—
Abigail Lee,
Variety,
13 May 2025
-
Few on TV ever have portrayed the everyman better, though with his characteristic modesty, Wendt always directed plaudits to the show’s writers.—
Bob Goldsborough,
Chicago Tribune,
20 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Plebeian.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plebeian. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
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