trample

3 definitions • 6 examples

to step heavily on something or someone, causing damage or injury:

Somebody trampled all over my flowerbeds!

Eight people were trampled to death (= killed) when the stadium collapsed and the crowd rushed out onto the football pitch.

to act without any respect for someone or something:

She accused the government of trampling on the needs and rights of the ordinary citizen.

He argues that Congress trampled the constitutional rights of legal immigrants in the new welfare reform law.

to step heavily on or crush someone or something:

[ T ] The commuter in a hurry tramples anyone who gets in the way.

[ I ] fig. An employer cannot trample on the rights of employees (= damage or destroy them).