as in obedient
readily giving in to the command or authority of another
it's not in her nature to be submissive
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in obedience
a readiness or willingness to yield to the wishes of others
his uncharacteristic submissiveness to the doctor's advice must mean he's really sick
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of submissive
Claude Malhuret, The Atlantic, 8 Mar. 2025
However, these works — all written by men — portrayed Veronika as a fragile, submissive woman, passively awaiting her fate.
—Leo Barraclough, Variety, 14 Feb. 2025
This dynamic inadvertently fosters a dominant/submissive power play, providing Romy with an unexpected outlet to explore and indulge her kinks.
—Robert Lang, Deadline, 7 Jan. 2025
Cowed by DeSantis, weak and submissive lawmakers unquestioningly approved his culture-war agenda.
—Steve Bousquet, Sun Sentinel, 1 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for submissive
Adjective
Washington has become the court of Nero: an incendiary emperor, submissive courtiers, and a buffoon on ketamine tasked with purging the civil service.
—Claude Malhuret, The Atlantic, 8 Mar. 2025
However, these works — all written by men — portrayed Veronika as a fragile, submissive woman, passively awaiting her fate.
—Leo Barraclough, Variety, 14 Feb. 2025
This dynamic inadvertently fosters a dominant/submissive power play, providing Romy with an unexpected outlet to explore and indulge her kinks.
—Robert Lang, Deadline, 7 Jan. 2025
Cowed by DeSantis, weak and submissive lawmakers unquestioningly approved his culture-war agenda.
—Steve Bousquet, Sun Sentinel, 1 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for submissive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for submissive
Adjective
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The scale asks whether a respondent tends to prefer children who are obedient, well behaved and well mannered or children who are independent, creative and considerate.—
Adam Eichen,
The Conversation,
11 June 2025
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Those who tend to favor obedient children are scored as having more authoritarian views.—
Adam Eichen,
The Conversation,
11 June 2025
Noun
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Their intelligence varies by breed and falls into three types: instinctive, adaptive, and working/obedience.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 June 2025
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Conformity, obedience, uniformity Authoritarianism is defined by public opinion scholars as an individual’s predisposition toward conformity, obedience and uniformity and an aversion to diversity, difference and individual autonomy.—
Adam Eichen,
The Conversation,
11 June 2025
Noun
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Too many have chosen the politics of non-engagement, which is at best a hair’s breadth away from acquiescence or complicity.—
Kamila Shamsie
June 20,
Literary Hub,
20 June 2025
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This long history of the expansion of executive power, often with the acquiescence of the courts, to violate and restrict civil liberties in the name of national security has ultimately brought us to our current situation.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
9 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Submissive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/submissive. Accessed 15 Jul. 2025.
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