underling

noun

un·​der·​ling ˈən-dər-liŋ 

: one who is under the orders of another : subordinate, inferior

Synonyms of underling

• subordinate
• henchman
• minion

Examples of underling in a Sentence

He takes all the credit, but most of the hard work is done by his underlings.

the real estate tycoon has a whole army of underlings to attend to the details

Recent Examples on the Web

Trump and his underlings make Nixon and his henchmen seem like amateurs. — Arthur Krystal, New Yorker, 25 May 2026

Towards the end of the season, Chris relapses and starts using again, leading to a car crash that leaves him maimed, giving Tony no other option but to whack his underling. — Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 10 June 2026

Even Trump himself—with his garbled speech and incoherent ramblings—makes his underlings seem more credible by comparison. — Sarah Longwell, The Atlantic, 23 Apr. 2026

But the occupant of the Oval Office doesn’t want his underlings engaging in self-promotion and vindictive lawsuits. — Robert B. Reich, Hartford Courant, 28 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

12th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

underling

noun

un·​der·​ling ˈən-dər-liŋ 

: one who is under the orders of another : subordinate