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

Giamatti makes Jerry ferocious but not monstruous, a man who certainly likes barking orders at various underlings but loves making good theater even more. — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 6 Sep. 2026

One of Driscoll’s underlings, Deputy Undersecretary Dave Fitzgerald, is also leaving, The Wall Street Journal reported. — Shelby Talcott, semafor.com, 1 Sep. 2026

Scarface doesn’t just bark orders at his underlings but browbeats the whimpering Ventriloquist, giving him that warped double personality that made older characters like Two-Face so alluring. — Daniel Dockery, Vulture, 24 Aug. 2026

Rumors of relationships between executives and underlings went around on campus. — Claire Stapleton, New Yorker, 18 July 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