underdog

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.

Apple has come a long way from its days as a scrappy underdog in the personal-computing world.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 31, 2026

But because fewer bettors typically back the underdog, payouts usually don’t eclipse sportsbooks’ overall revenue.

From Barron's • Mar. 30, 2026

Gray Davis was a huge underdog who prevailed in a wide-open 1998 contest.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 29, 2026

Their total ineptitude—120 losses out of 161 games in 1962, their first season—helped make them ironic underdog heroes.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026

At least he’d been an appealing underdog then.

From "The House of the Scorpion" by Nancy Farmer