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 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subcontracting
  1. contracting
  2. paying
  3. hiring
  4. placing
  5. recruiting
Verb
  • McConnell has not been seen or heard in public since he was hospitalized in mid-June after suffering the fall at his home in Washington and then contracting pneumonia.
    — Kevin Breuninger,Garrett Downs, CNBC, 6 Aug. 2026
  • This summer’s cyclospora outbreak has triggered worries about contracting a nasty foodborne gastrointestinal illness caused by the microscopic parasite.
    — Gina Vivinetto, NBC news, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of contracting
Verb
  • Without his salary, paying rent, buying food, phone credit, covering transport costs and paying water bills have all become daily struggles.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 7 Aug. 2026
  • The proposal stated that military or civilian cargo linked to Israeli vessels and other entities deemed to have damaged Iran would be banned from crossing until paying compensation.
    — Sophia Saifi, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of paying
Verb
  • Producers Mara Isaacs, Dale Franzen, Hunter Arnold, and Tom Kirdahy announced Davis’ hiring Tuesday.
    — Greg Evans, Deadline, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Pre-production is a long process that includes casting, hiring the crew, scheduling, rehearsals, and so much more — a lot can happen during the weeks and months leading up to filming.
    — Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of hiring
Verb
  • With Dolphin expected to affect part of Japan’s southern main island of Kyushu, residents whose houses were damaged by last week’s deadly earthquake were placing blue tarps on roofs and walls to prevent water damage.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Either thaw them at room temperature or reheat them by wrapping frozen muffins or loaves in foil and placing them in a 300ºF oven for 12 to 15 minutes (muffins) or up to 30 minutes (loaves) until heated through.
    — Katlyn Moncada, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of placing
Verb
  • But there’s also room for a couple of 3 stars, as the Super 11 is more about high school star power than recruiting ranking.
    — Todd Holcomb, AJC.com, 3 Aug. 2026
  • That's right, Curt Cignetti just changed the entire dynamic of Hoosier recruiting with a commitment from one Monshun Sales, a five-star wideout hailing from nearby Indianapolis.
    — Austin Perry OutKick, FOXNews.com, 1 Aug. 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 9 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on subcontracting

Nglish: Translation of subcontracting for Spanish Speakers

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