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.

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

From MarketWatch • May 15, 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

No one will ever accuse Major League Soccer of being a slave to tradition.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 29, 2023

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

From Slate • Jul. 11, 2023

Stanton wrote to Lucretia Mott: “Woman can never develop in her present drapery. She is a slave to her rags.”

From "Votes for Women!" by Winifred Conkling

a slave to

Example Sentences

Related Words