as in lesser
having not so great importance or rank as another
his contention is that environment plays a subordinate role to heredity in determining what we become
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in underling
one who is of lower rank and typically under the authority of another
subordinates do most of the actual creation of the famous designer's clothing designs
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to subject
to bring under one's control by force of arms
it is one of the lessons of history that more powerful civilizations often subordinate weaker ones
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of subordinate
Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 3 Sep. 2025
The individual is regarded as inseparable from the omnipresent state, a subordinate position which most seem to gladly embrace.
—Uriel Kon
september 2, Literary Hub, 2 Sep. 2025
Davis Winkie, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
The heat on Nestlé is shifting from its CEO, who was fired this week for having an undisclosed affair with a subordinate, to its board, whose initial, apparently cursory, investigation failed to uncover evidence that a later probe uncovered.
—Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 4 Sep. 2025
Ronald Suny, The Conversation, 19 Aug. 2025
Anyone who diverges from progressive orthodoxy is excluded from faculty ranks, free inquiry is subordinated to activism, and taxpayer funds flow into administrative bureaucracies that enforce political correctness.
—Ilya Shapiro, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for subordinate
Adjective
They were issued by Fina RDC 2020, a certificate authority that’s subordinate to the root certificate holder Fina Root CA.
—Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 3 Sep. 2025
The individual is regarded as inseparable from the omnipresent state, a subordinate position which most seem to gladly embrace.
—Uriel Kon
september 2, Literary Hub, 2 Sep. 2025
Noun
Participants would complete a physical fitness test, have their body fat measured, undergo a psychological evaluation, receive leadership evaluations from former peers and subordinates, and complete verbal and written communication assessments.
—Davis Winkie, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
The heat on Nestlé is shifting from its CEO, who was fired this week for having an undisclosed affair with a subordinate, to its board, whose initial, apparently cursory, investigation failed to uncover evidence that a later probe uncovered.
—Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 4 Sep. 2025
Verb
Trump appears less concerned about the prospect of a truncated Ukraine subordinated to Russia.
—Ronald Suny, The Conversation, 19 Aug. 2025
Anyone who diverges from progressive orthodoxy is excluded from faculty ranks, free inquiry is subordinated to activism, and taxpayer funds flow into administrative bureaucracies that enforce political correctness.
—Ilya Shapiro, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for subordinate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subordinate
Adjective
-
Even lesser-scale incidents like the Varsity Blues college admissions scandal and the Volkswagen emissions scandal erode trust in the institutions that help make our society possible and push it forward.—
Lindsey Witmer Collins,
Forbes.com,
7 Aug. 2025
-
Toronto’s Fred VanVleet appears to be the top target, but Miami’s Kyle Lowry, Utah’s Mike Conley and, perhaps to a lesser extent, Charlotte’s Terry Rozier have been linked to the team at various points.—
Staff Writer
Follow,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Feb. 2023
Noun
-
Sandurz, an underling of Dark Helmet’s, is not a direct parody of any Star Wars character but plays a part similar to that of General Veers or Admiral Piett in the original series.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
25 Sep. 2025
-
Like his Washington, Bargatze’s Farnsworth regaled a trio of underlings (SNL cast members Bowen Yang, Mikey Day, and James Austin Johnson) with ridiculous yet accurate predictions for the future, in this case of TV.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Orders in Memphis would subject troops to the Posse Comitatus Act, which bars them from engaging in law enforcement.—
Devon M. Sayers,
CNN Money,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Many employers already subject potential hires to elaborate interview and testing regimes, sometimes requiring them to perform tasks or problem-solve while recruiters watch.—
Joshua Rothman,
New Yorker,
30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
This is most likely to happen when the temperature is 36 degrees or less.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
11 Oct. 2025
-
But Kraus, who studies gambling disorders, attributes the growing popularity of parlays less to the users, and more to the sportsbooks.—
Sasha Rogelberg,
Fortune,
11 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Another key aspect of Bananatex is its open-source nature, designed to be shared with others to offer a viable alternative to synthetic materials that dominate the bag industry.—
Andrea Onate,
Footwear News,
9 Oct. 2025
-
In a world dominated by uncertainty, how companies prepare for deregulation is one of the few levers of control available to leadership.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
9 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
His most successful year came in 2022 when the junior hauled in 34 catches, good for 533 yards and six touchdowns — all single-season career highs for the then-Buckeye.—
David K. Li,
NBC news,
9 Oct. 2025
-
Baker was a junior at the University of South Carolina and a member of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity.—
Louis Casiano,
FOXNews.com,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
A bit subdued and a bit of a passenger.—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
-
Another finding is that risk appetite is understandably subdued.—
Sheryl Estrada,
Fortune,
1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
And ultimately, the Supreme Court overruled those lower court rulings and did declare the embryos as children qualifying under the wrongful death statute.—
Dana Taylor,
USA TODAY,
1 Mar. 2024
-
Lower gas demand amid increasing supply has led to lower pump prices.—
Frank Witsil,
Detroit Free Press,
19 June 2023
Cite this Entry
“Subordinate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subordinate. Accessed 12 Oct. 2025.
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