bottom feeder

1. A fish or other animal that feeds on the bottom of a body of water.

2. One that feeds low on the food chain; a scavenger.

3. Slang

a. An opportunist who profits from the misfortunes of others: "The frazzled, adrenaline-pumped tabloid newshounds [in the movie] are the bottom feeders of contemporary journalism" (Entertainment Weekly).

b. A low or despicable person.

bottom feeding n.

bot′tom-feed′ing (bŏt′əm-fē′dĭng) adj.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

bottom feeder

1. (Zoology) a fish that feeds on material at the bottom of a river, lake, sea, etc

2. an objectionable and unimpressive person or thing

3. (Stock Exchange) Also called: bottom fisher a speculator who buys shares in companies that are performing poorly in anticipation of improved performance

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

bot′tom feed`er

1. bottom fish.

2. a person who functions or seeks to gain at the lowest level of an activity: bottom feeders who buy undervalued stocks; social bottom feeders hanging out in seedy bars.

3. a person who appeals to base instincts.

Also called bot′tom-fish`er (for defs. 2, 3).

[1920–25]

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun

bottom feeder - an opportunist who profits from the misfortunes of others

opportunist, self-seeker - a person who places expediency above principle

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Catfish are more of a bottom feeder but they will also eat live shrimp or a pilchard.

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one by one.The Editor was convinced that the evening cleaning crew was out to get him for raising his voice as they mopped around his highly-polished shoes and he even threatened to install CCTV cameras to catch the killers in the act.The latest recruits, Mai, a bug-eyed goldfish and Charlie, a bottom feeder, looked in danger of following their predecessors until it was discovered that the tank's pump was sucking them in by the gills.

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SCAN THE PRESIDENTIAL rankings historians and pundits produce, and you'll find one consistent bottom feeder: Warren G.

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Remember, you are not trying to get the lowest price and therefore become a "bottom feeder," but rather get a good store at a fair price.

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It was also found to be a bottom feeder with respect to dial patterns of feeding.

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Freedom officials, the judge said, shouldn't have to endure answering questions from "every tire kicker and bottom feeder on the planet."

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One teacher-librarian told me that he was a "bottom feeder" and was successful year after year with the small grants lots of folks did not bother to apply for, so his odds were higher and he was successful at bringing in thousands and thousands of dollars.

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27) thinks I'm a bottom feeder because I patronize Spirits Bar on Main Street in Springfield.

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