a slave to

ADJECTIVE

downtrodden

Synonyms

STRONGEST

destitute distressed exploited needy oppressed persecuted

WEAK

abject at one's beck and call at one's feet at one's mercy have-not helpless in one's clutches in one's pocket in one's power led by the nose maltreated mistreated overcome subjugated subservient suppressed tyrannized under one's thumb underdog underfoot

Antonyms

STRONGEST

rich wealthy

WEAK

happy respected satisfied

ADJECTIVE

oppressed

Synonyms

STRONGEST

abused destitute distressed enslaved exploited helpless persecuted

STRONG

burdened maltreated mistreated suppressed tormented tyrannized

WEAK

abject at one's feet at one's mercy have-not subservient under one's thumb underfoot

ADJECTIVE

subservient

Synonyms

STRONGEST

deferential submissive

STRONG

compliant

WEAK

abject acquiescent at one's beck and call at one's mercy bootlicking cowering cringing docile fawning ignoble in one's clutches in one's pocket in one's power mean menial obeisant obsequious resigned servile slavish subject sycophantic under one's thumb

Antonyms

STRONGEST

disobedient

WEAK

controlling domineering unhelpful unnecessary useless

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.

I was a slave to credit-card debt, then I got laid off and turned my life around.

From MarketWatch • May 11, 2026

Help your kids build the character to make the most of technology rather than become a slave to it.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 8, 2026

He has said before that he doesn't do dogma and is not a slave to any one system.

From BBC • Oct. 20, 2025

This is a free country and I am not a slave to any narrative.

From Slate • Jul. 11, 2023

I remembered Uri’s story of my beginnings, of becoming a slave to farmers.

From "Milkweed" by Jerry Spinelli