as in contracting
to come to an agreement with another person or company to do part of a job that you have been hired to do
Parts of the project were subcontracted (out) to specialists.
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Recent Examples of subcontracting
Content industries in the country are plagued by low wages, punishing hours, and subcontracting arrangements that push risk onto the most vulnerable workers.
—
Bobby Ghosh, Time, 7 May 2026
Echo was subcontracting, which meant long hours for thin margins.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 28 Mar. 2026
But anyone subcontracting tasks to AI is clever enough to imagine what might come next—a day when augmentation crosses into automation, and cognitive obsolescence compels them to seek work at a food truck, pet spa, or massage table.
—Josh Tyrangiel, The Atlantic, 10 Feb. 2026
Bobby Ghosh, Time, 7 May 2026
Echo was subcontracting, which meant long hours for thin margins.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 28 Mar. 2026
But anyone subcontracting tasks to AI is clever enough to imagine what might come next—a day when augmentation crosses into automation, and cognitive obsolescence compels them to seek work at a food truck, pet spa, or massage table.
—Josh Tyrangiel, The Atlantic, 10 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subcontracting
Verb
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With no protective equipment beyond a cheap face mask, the 28-year-old in Bunia, a city at the heart of the outbreak, symbolizes the women in eastern Congo who are almost always the first caregiver, a role that health workers say is putting them at higher risk of contracting Ebola.—
Mark Banchereau,
Chicago Tribune,
4 June 2026
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With no protective equipment beyond a cheap face mask, the 28-year-old in Bunia, a city at the heart of the outbreak, symbolizes the women in eastern Congo who are almost always the first caregiver, a role that health workers say is putting them at higher risk of contracting Ebola.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
3 June 2026
Verb
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Not doing the dishes, not paying the rent, not getting up in the morning is far more enjoyable.—
Erika Landström,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
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Another standout was Fables, a whimsical, herbaceous drink paying homage to Aesop’s Fables.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
Verb
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When Tracy was elevated from Triple-A to the big leagues Breslow didn’t rule out hiring a permanent manager midseason.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
30 May 2026
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The airline has been hiring crew members from the defunct Spirit Airlines and expanding its pilot base at FLL.—
Jeff Kleinman,
Miami Herald,
29 May 2026
Verb
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Seal garbage tightly in bags, and rinse out bottles and cans before placing in recycling bins.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
4 June 2026
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Start by placing the pan on the stovetop with kosher salt sprinkled in it.—
Katherine McLaughlin,
Architectural Digest,
4 June 2026
Verb
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Regardless, the Texas A&M Aggies are absolutely crushing it in recruiting right now, and the rest of the country is going to have to start paying attention, because Elko and the boys aren't going anywhere anytime soon.—
Austin Perry OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
2 June 2026
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In high-turnover industries like fast casual food, recruiting workers can feel like a never-ending cycle of onboarding and offboarding.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
2 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Subcontracting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subcontracting. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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