underling

noun

un·​der·​ling ˈən-dər-liŋ How to pronounce underling (audio)
Synonyms of underlingnext
: one who is under the orders of another : subordinate, inferior

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
That film spawned irrationally confident underlings. Joel Lorenzi, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2026 As of this week, thanks to the egocentric exertions of the current President and his obedient underlings and friends, the place has been renamed the Donald J. Trump and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. David Remnick, New Yorker, 20 Dec. 2025 What began as a humorous meme page capturing the daily struggle of entertainment underlings evolved into a multi-platform media company and educational ecosystem. Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 10 Dec. 2025 Yet whenever Bunny turns away from Frank to take a call from one of his underlings about the day-to-day violence and ugliness of their industry, a somewhat disdainful look passes across Frank’s face. Noel Murray, Vulture, 9 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for underling

Word History

First Known Use

12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of underling was in the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Underling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/underling. Accessed 28 Jan. 2026.

Kids Definition

underling

noun
un·​der·​ling ˈən-dər-liŋ How to pronounce underling (audio)
: one who is under the orders of another : subordinate
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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