subcontracting

verb

present participle of subcontract
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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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of subcontracting Echo was subcontracting, which meant long hours for thin margins. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 28 Mar. 2026 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 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
  1. contracting
  2. paying
  3. hiring
  4. placing
  5. recruiting
Verb
  • Pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, medications can also greatly reduce one's risk of contracting HIV in the first place.
    — Charles Trepany, USA Today, 2 July 2026
  • Quitting the search Within the bureau’s household survey, where the participation numbers are drawn, is a story of a consistently contracting labor force potentially driven by unemployed workers simply giving up.
    — Jeff Cox, CNBC, 2 July 2026
Definition of contracting
Verb
  • Not trade unions, which ought to realize licensure reform will ultimately lead to more dues-paying members.
    — Ryan Craig, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
  • No other white author of the late 19th century engaged so fully with the Black community, whether in promoting the Fisk Jubilee Singers or paying expenses for a Black student at Yale Law School.
    — Ron Chernow, The Atlantic, 2 July 2026
Definition of paying
Verb
  • The invasion-of-privacy claim was also dismissed because state law doesn’t recognize claims based on the disclosure of private facts, and the employees had willingly provided their information to Bojangles as part of the hiring process.
    — Chase Jordan July 7, Charlotte Observer, 7 July 2026
  • Just like hiring a new employee, AI requires strict instructions and examples of good and bad work.
    — Tyler Dykstra, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026
Definition of hiring
Verb
  • Lawrence natives have held watch parties for all of Team Algeria’s games in downtown Lawrence, as well as various rallies for Algeria’s fans, with downtown stores placing Team Algeria jerseys in display windows.
    — Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 3 July 2026
  • Amazon challenged that assumption by proving consumers valued faster delivery enough to justify placing inventory in more locations, before ultimately regionalizing its fulfillment network.
    — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 2 July 2026
Definition of placing
Verb
  • Now, the Twins run baseball operations and Masubuchi has retired from recruiting.
    — Anya Armentrout, Twin Cities, 4 July 2026
  • The group plans on recruiting 50,000 volunteers and is actively fundraising to pass the measure.
    — Ben Paviour July 2, Sacbee.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of recruiting

Browse Nearby Words

subcontracted
subcontracting
subcontracts
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Cite this Entry

“Subcontracting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subcontracting. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on subcontracting

Nglish: Translation of subcontracting for Spanish Speakers

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