as in obedience
a bending to the authority or control of another
an oligarchy requires subordination by the masses to the will of a tiny elite
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Recent Examples of subordination
This back-and-forth struggle to dominate American institutions testifies to their surpassing value and to their insusceptibility to permanent subordination.
—
Stephen Kotkin,
Foreign Affairs,
16 Dec. 2025
Lai rejects that position entirely, calling it a path toward subordination to China.
—
Eryk Michael Smith,
FOXNews.com,
3 Dec. 2025
Instead, officials reinforce colonial subordination while deepening the vulnerability of immigrant communities.
—
Israel Melendez Ayala,
Time,
16 Sep. 2025
The documentation should show the commercial rationale for the advance, a repayment schedule, any security or subordination terms, and actions consistent with a creditor relationship (for example, formal demands for payment, enforcement steps or arms‑length interest rates).
—
Virginia La Torre Jeker,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for subordination
Stephen Kotkin,
Foreign Affairs,
16 Dec. 2025
Lai rejects that position entirely, calling it a path toward subordination to China.
—
Eryk Michael Smith,
FOXNews.com,
3 Dec. 2025
Instead, officials reinforce colonial subordination while deepening the vulnerability of immigrant communities.
—
Israel Melendez Ayala,
Time,
16 Sep. 2025
The documentation should show the commercial rationale for the advance, a repayment schedule, any security or subordination terms, and actions consistent with a creditor relationship (for example, formal demands for payment, enforcement steps or arms‑length interest rates).
—
Virginia La Torre Jeker,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for subordination
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subordination
Noun
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Civilian control of the military requires obedience to lawful orders, not blind participation in whatever form of violence a president chooses to rename as war.
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For example, a pet owner who doesn't have to absorb the full costs of a $5,000 emergency surgery bill may be better positioned to continue purchasing high-quality food, maintaining regular dental cleanings or enrolling in obedience classes afterward.
Noun
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The statement amounted to a complete submission to Thomas, who used her Tuesday media availability to blast Engelbert.
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With three different categories, judges from across the USA TODAY Network ranked each submission in order to narrow down the contest to just 30 finalists.
Noun
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Before publishing, journalists reviewed this content in compliance with McClatchy Media’s AI policy.
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And a final deal that lacks stringent verification procedures to monitor Iran’s compliance will not be worth the paper that it’s printed on.
Cite this Entry
“Subordination.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subordination. Accessed 4 Jul. 2026.
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