subject 1 of 3

Definition of subjectnext
1
2
as in citizen
a person who owes allegiance to a government and is protected by it because of the tense situation in that country, British subjects were advised to return home as soon as possible

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3
as in reason
something (as a belief) that serves as the basis for another thing he has no subject to protest this time, but that's never stopped him before

Synonyms & Similar Words

subject

2 of 3

verb

subject

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adjective

Synonym Chooser

How is the word subject distinct from other similar nouns?

The words citizen and national are common synonyms of subject. While all three words mean "a person owing allegiance to and entitled to the protection of a sovereign state," subject implies allegiance to a personal sovereign such as a monarch.

the king's subjects

When would citizen be a good substitute for subject?

In some situations, the words citizen and subject are roughly equivalent. However, citizen is preferred for one owing allegiance to a state in which sovereign power is retained by the people and sharing in the political rights of those people.

the rights of a free citizen

When is national a more appropriate choice than subject?

The synonyms national and subject are sometimes interchangeable, but national designates one who may claim the protection of a state and applies especially to one living or traveling outside that state.

American nationals working in the Middle East

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 subject
Noun
The 2023 property tax valuation cycle — and to a lesser extent, the 2024 and 2025 cycles — have been the subject of widespread outrage in Jackson County, with skyrocketing property values alarming homeowners and business owners alike. Ilana Arougheti june 13, Kansas City Star, 13 June 2026 Travel now served as a palliative—first a trip to Jamaica, then a year and a half voyage to Europe and the Levant, where Church painted the Holy Land, another subject with reliable sales. Susan Tallman, The Atlantic, 13 June 2026
Verb
Continuously subjecting the account to a series of deposits and withdrawals, however, will limit your earning potential. Matt Richardson, CBS News, 12 June 2026 The sponsors may be caring and well-intentioned, but senior administration officials calling them out suggests that authorities harbor suspicion about them and may subject them to deeper scrutiny. Alanna Durkin Richer, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2026
Adjective
The team solicited problems from mathematicians across a great breadth of subject areas. Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 10 June 2026 The subject area improvements also went beyond fractions. Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 10 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for subject
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subject
Noun
  • Similarly, nonfiction about topics completely outside your everyday experience is also beneficial, improving your ability to focus and think critically about problems from multiple perspectives.
    Esther K. Choy, Forbes.com, 14 June 2026
  • Some of the most successful faceless channels are centered around narrow educational topics.
    Andrew Zucker, HollywoodReporter, 13 June 2026
Noun
  • When he was arrested, Ali Hemani, a dual citizen of the United States and Pakistan, was being monitored by the FBI because of his alleged connection to Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard.
    Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 18 June 2026
  • Recent citizen science data suggests the bloom affected nearly 8,000 square miles.
    Harriet Marsden, TheWeek, 18 June 2026
Noun
  • Many fans cited transportation logistics and enhanced security measures as key reasons for the delays.
    Abby Dodge, CBS News, 17 June 2026
  • So what was the real reason Ilunga did it?
    Nick Miller, New York Times, 17 June 2026
Verb
  • Turkey dominated its opener, outshooting Australia 30-9, taking 51 touches in the penalty area and completing 90% of its 635 passes.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2026
  • South Africa is dominating possession (63% to 37%) and has made over 100 more accurate passes than Czechia.
    Andrew Greif, NBC news, 19 June 2026
Adjective
  • Guerrero Flores returned to the prison in Aragua on murder and other convictions in 2013, when Venezuela’s crisis began and corruption, mismanagement and a drop in crude prices wrecked the oil-dependent economy.
    Will Weissert, Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2026
  • As a result, the Navajo became economically dependent upon government subsidies.
    Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 13 June 2026
Noun
  • In a statement texted to the Star-Telegram before the phone call, Parker’s spokesperson said the mayor stressed that neither her husband’s firm nor his profession has any bearing on her decisions regarding matters before the City Council.
    Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 June 2026
  • And while the White House got to work immediately on the Knicks visiting, the Seahawks visit is apparently another matter.
    Armando Salguero OutKick, FOXNews.com, 18 June 2026
Noun
  • Federal immigration officials are urging New York authorities not to release a 59-year-old Salvadoran national accused of raping a 16-year-old girl on Long Island, warning that he should be turned over to ICE if released from local custody.
    Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 19 June 2026
  • Herdman found success in part by making the recruitment of dual nationals a priority, starting four of them — including Alphonso Davies, who immigrated to Canada from a refugee camp in Ghana — in Qatar.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2026
Noun
  • Ride share lots are far from the stadium grounds, so fans are urged to step out of their comfort zone and use public transportation.
    Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 14 June 2026
  • But a much larger crowd is expected to watch on The Ellipse, near the Lincoln Memorial and surrounding areas outside of the White House grounds.
    Isabella Murray, ABC News, 14 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Subject.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subject. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.

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