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.
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
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
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
-
Key Facts The Supreme Court ruled in favor of Monsanto—which no longer exists as a separate entity after being bought by Bayer—in a 7-2 ruling, after a man sued the company after contracting non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
-
Symptoms may still appear up to two weeks after first contracting the virus, health officials say.
Verb
-
In Britain, politicians are paying dearly for the pervasive sense that life is only getting harder and more expensive.
-
Their legal dispute ended in a zero-dollar settlement, with neither side paying the other.
Verb
-
Twice last month, people in South Korea taking an exam to assess their English language skills - the results of which are often used to make hiring decisions - were caught using smart glasses.
-
He is accused of not checking work authorizations before hiring laborers, according to the Post.
Verb
-
The system has long been mired in controversy, including exam paper leaks and technical failures, placing a crushing burden on students, and financial strain on families investing everything in their children for a promise that can often appear fragile.
-
The game plan in a modern Feeney game revolves around strategically placing the elders in the batting lineup to avoid having two quick strikeouts or slow runners on base.
Verb
-
Some teachers received more than $4,000 in bonuses for recruiting students for trips.
-
Phase 3 Study 304 data in men is expected in the second half of 2026, and Phase 3 Study 306 in women is actively recruiting.
Cite this Entry
“Subcontracting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subcontracting. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
