put-upon

[poot-uh-pon, -pawn]

adjective

1. imposed upon; ill-used.

put upon

verb

1. to presume on (a person's generosity, good nature, etc); take advantage of

   he's always being put upon

2. to impose hardship on; maltreat

Word History and Origins

Origin of put upon¹

First recorded in 1915–20

Example Sentences

Hargitay’s siblings say that that version of Mansfield, the one who put up with being put upon, was only one layer of the mother they knew.

From Salon

And in the years since, so much emotion and reverence have been put upon the film that there’s almost too much to fit into the confines of a single reputation.

From Salon

But, in the wake of the biggest trade so far this season, I thought back to the mission statement the Dodgers’ president of baseball operations put upon himself last winter.

From Los Angeles Times

But they are also very committed to the idea that white conservatives accused of racial discrimination are very put upon.

From Salon

And the condition really is such that the censorship and all the pressure put upon artists is always tied together with the work and the stories they tell.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• afflict 
• annoy 
• beat down 
• harass 
• maltreat 
• overwhelm 
• persecute 
• pick on 
• prey on 
• subjugate 
• suppress 
• torment 
• torture 
• trample 
• vex