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dogmeat

dogmeat

1 9.9
Someone or something people treat as worthless and easily defeated
  • noun
  • /ˈdɔɡˌmit/
  • Offensive
: basura
  • You're dogmeat, pal.

Examples

  • After the team lost the final match, the coach told them they played like dogmeat and needed to improve.

  • He realized he was treated as dogmeat in the project and decided to stand up for himself.

  • There'll be you, some dogmeat from Harvard and our rig when it gets ready.

  • In the competition, every underdog faced such fierce opponents that they felt like dogmeat by the end.

Synonyms

dogshit
vsdogmeat
  • Offensive
7 9.9

Rude word for a thing or action that is very bad and useless

is similar but can also mean someone easily defeated or in a hopeless state
waste of skin
vsdogmeat
  • Offensive
2 9.9

A person seen as having no value or use

is used more broadly and can stress being easily defeated or helpless
dog turd
vsdogmeat
  • Offensive
1 9.9

An insulting word for a person or thing that is very bad

adds the idea of being overwhelmed or unable to win rather than quality alone
jellybean
vsdogmeat
  • Offensive
1 8.4

Someone or something people see as weak and not important

is harsher, implying strong worthlessness or clear defeat rather than mild weakness
bottom dog
vsdogmeat
  • Offensive
1 9.2

A person or group with low rank who usually loses in competition

is broader, also applying to things seen as worthless or hopeless beyond losing

Antonyms

700 2.5

Very useful and important, for example advice or skills

147 3.5

A useful quality, skill, or person that helps someone succeed

How Worthless

dogmeat
  • Offensive
1 9.9
liability
81 5.7
dead weight
  • Offensive
23 4.4
loser
  • Offensive
709 4.8
weakest link
  • Informal
36 4.3

Surface Forms

dogmeat singular
dogmeats plural

Morphology

dogmeat = dog + meat (semi-transparent) = dog + meat

The sense is a figurative extension of the literal compound; the metaphorical meaning 'worthless, easily defeated' is not fully predictable for all learners.

Etymology

Dogmeat as a slang insult comes from the idea of something being only 'fit for dogs' or 'dog food', so it means a person or thing seen as worthless, easily defeated, or done for.