as in obedient
readily giving in to the command or authority of another
it's not in her nature to be submissive
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of submissive
Carroll County needs leadership, not submissive accountants dutifully sharpening the axe.
—
Randy Linville, Baltimore Sun, 9 Feb. 2026
In the dark romantic comedy-drama, True Blood alum Skarsgård, 49, plays tough biker Ray, who enters into a dominant-submissive relationship with Colin (Melling), a shy and directionless man who sings in a barbershop quartet.
—Eric Andersson, PEOPLE, 7 Jan. 2026
Usually, guys with power like to be submissive and are bottoms.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 11 Dec. 2025
Earlier this year, my colleague and bud Kelefa Sanneh suggested that music critics, as a lot, have gone soft—becoming submissive, overly agreeable, and, in some cases, nearly servile.
—Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 1 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for submissive
Randy Linville, Baltimore Sun, 9 Feb. 2026
In the dark romantic comedy-drama, True Blood alum Skarsgård, 49, plays tough biker Ray, who enters into a dominant-submissive relationship with Colin (Melling), a shy and directionless man who sings in a barbershop quartet.
—Eric Andersson, PEOPLE, 7 Jan. 2026
Usually, guys with power like to be submissive and are bottoms.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 11 Dec. 2025
Earlier this year, my colleague and bud Kelefa Sanneh suggested that music critics, as a lot, have gone soft—becoming submissive, overly agreeable, and, in some cases, nearly servile.
—Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 1 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for submissive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for submissive
Adjective
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Her son, Navaraj, is obedient and dutiful.—
Jessica Vantine Birkenholtz,
The Conversation,
24 Mar. 2026
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Tariffs could be 'hard sell' in election year How obedient will the congressional GOP be to Trump in an election year?—
Justin Papp,
CNBC,
23 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
There are nine dedicated ADA-compliant rooms.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
31 Mar. 2026
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In the design proposal, developers listed one of the 11 units as being compliant with Evanston’s Inclusionary Housing Ordinance and sold at an affordable price.—
Claire Murphy,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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And the receiver comes off as agreeable off the field — without being docile.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
22 Mar. 2026
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The song is that of a humpback whale, a marine giant beloved by whale watchers for its docile nature and spectacular leaps from the water, and was recorded by scientists in March 1949 in Bermuda, said researchers at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Falmouth, Massachusetts.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
16 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Submissive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/submissive. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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