submissive

adjective

sub·​mis·​sive səb-ˈmi-siv 

: submitting to others

submissive employees

submissively adverb

submissiveness noun

Synonyms

• amenable
• biddable
• compliant
• conformable
• docile
• law-abiding
• obedient
• tractable

Examples of submissive in a Sentence

it's not in her nature to be submissive

Recent Examples on the Web

And the horse is completely submissive at that point. —Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 29 Nov. 2024

Their allies were sycophantic, and their natural opponents—especially the French—were submissive. —Martin Sandbu, Foreign Affairs, 12 Dec. 2017

Is being submissive in that moment the quickest way to bring that moment to an end? —Jackie Strause, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019

Tops don’t have to be hard, masc, and tall — and bottoms don’t have to be submissive, small, or fem! —María Saldana, Them, 1 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1572, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

submissive

adjective

sub·​mis·​sive səb-ˈmis-iv 

: inclined or willing to submit to others : yielding

submissively adverb

submissiveness noun

Etymology

from Latin submissus, past participle of submittere "to let down," from sub- "under, below" and mittere "to send, throw" — related to message

Medical Definition

submissive

adjective

sub·​mis·​sive səb-ˈmis-iv 

: characterized by tendencies to yield to the will or authority of others

bullying usually involves a stronger, more dominant personality coercing a weaker, more submissive personality

—S. W. Twemlow et al.

submissiveness noun