submissive

adjective

sub·​mis·​sive səb-ˈmi-siv 

: submitting to others

submissive employees

submissively adverb

submissiveness noun

Synonyms

• obedient

Examples of submissive in a Sentence

it's not in her nature to be submissive

Recent Examples on the Web

Less than a year after Poor Things — and a mere three months since that movie won multiple Oscars — Lanthimos reunited with Emma Stone, Willem Dafoe, and Margaret Qualley for a demented triptych organized around dominant-submissive relationships. —A.a. Dowd, Vulture, 24 Oct. 2025

Additionally, religious leaders believed that the long toes prevented people from kneeling in a respectful, submissive manner and so restricted the ability to properly pray. —Michael Watson, The Conversation, 20 Oct. 2025

The country wasn’t being run, and laws weren’t being made, by people who endorse the idea of submissive women with great enthusiasm. —Megan Angelo, Glamour, 20 Oct. 2025

The titillating drama explores the complexities of dominant-submissive relationships and fetishes, as Ray gets aroused by making Colin lick his boots, buy his groceries and sleep at the foot of his bed. —Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 6 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1572, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for submissive

• derisive
• dismissive
• emissive
• permissive
• transmissive
• missive

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