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
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
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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The 2025 spike in measles resulted in 91 people in 13 Kansas counties contracting the illness, according to KDHE data.—
Sofi Zeman
April 6,
Kansas City Star,
6 Apr. 2026
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Three years later, the coach's older brother, Anthony, died after contracting COVID-19.—
Emily Blackwood,
PEOPLE,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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With threats to expose social security numbers, dates of birth, family information, grades, and even confidential medical information, the breach cornered PowerSchool into paying millions of dollars in ransom.—
Mike Levine,
ABC News,
14 Apr. 2026
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The company has pushed back on Cherry Creek Schools’ efforts to terminate contracts with Education Accelerated in February, and the firm’s attorney has accused the district of not paying a recent invoice.—
Jessica Seaman,
Denver Post,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Similar to Kirby, Ahn believes personality can make or break a hiring decision.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
10 Apr. 2026
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That means clear rules and oversight for technology affecting civil rights, public services or equal opportunity; protecting employee and resident data; and ensuring algorithms don’t drive decisions about wages, discipline or hiring without accountability and transparency.—
Maria Noel Fernandez,
Mercury News,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Luna is in your sign, making feelings vivid and placing your needs at the center of decisions.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
9 Apr. 2026
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Ahead of the session, leaders of United Teachers Los Angeles, which represents some 37,000 teachers, urged acting Superintendent Andres Chait to reach an agreement and avoid disruptions to classrooms, placing responsibility on the district’s current leadership.—
Teresa Liu,
Daily News,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Among other Islamic groups, Schild labeled the Muslim Student Association and CAIR as dangerous organizations leading the Islamic infiltration and recruiting children to an extreme militant movement.—
Rachel Royster,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
13 Apr. 2026
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Many of the gangs' voluntary workers went home during Covid; not enough locals had the necessary language and computer skills, and recruiting people into cybercrime isn't always easy.—
The Week UK,
TheWeek,
12 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Subcontracting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subcontracting. Accessed 17 Apr. 2026.
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