as in lesser
having not so great importance or rank as another
his contention is that environment plays a subordinate role to heredity in determining what we become
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in underling
one who is of lower rank and typically under the authority of another
subordinates do most of the actual creation of the famous designer's clothing designs
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to subject
to bring under one's control by force of arms
it is one of the lessons of history that more powerful civilizations often subordinate weaker ones
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of subordinate
Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2025
Indeed, allowing men but not women to have multiple spouses is clearly unequal and entwined with patriarchal ideology that positions women as subordinate or inferior to men.
—David W. Lawson, The Conversation, 21 Oct. 2025
Colleen Cronin, Boston Herald, 4 Dec. 2025
Yoon and many subordinates face prosecution Within days, law enforcement started investigating Yoon on charges of insurrection.
—NPR, 3 Dec. 2025
Kim-Lien Nguyen, Boston Herald, 29 Nov. 2025
Although China is eager to use BRICS as a platform to expand its influence and advertise its governance model, other members remain wary of subordinating their interests to Beijing’s ambitions.
—Oliver Stuenkel, Foreign Affairs, 18 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for subordinate
Adjective
Yasuda ordered his subordinate, Lieutenant Colonel Tatsusaburo Suzuki, to prepare a report on the feasibility of a uranium project in Japan.
—Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2025
Indeed, allowing men but not women to have multiple spouses is clearly unequal and entwined with patriarchal ideology that positions women as subordinate or inferior to men.
—David W. Lawson, The Conversation, 21 Oct. 2025
Noun
Bukhenik lost five days of leave for not properly supervising Proctor, who was his subordinate during the Read investigation.
—Colleen Cronin, Boston Herald, 4 Dec. 2025
Yoon and many subordinates face prosecution Within days, law enforcement started investigating Yoon on charges of insurrection.
—NPR, 3 Dec. 2025
Verb
The past two generations of health care have been about gradual socialization of medicine, which has subordinated both patients and doctors to faceless bureaucrats and insurers.
—Kim-Lien Nguyen, Boston Herald, 29 Nov. 2025
Although China is eager to use BRICS as a platform to expand its influence and advertise its governance model, other members remain wary of subordinating their interests to Beijing’s ambitions.
—Oliver Stuenkel, Foreign Affairs, 18 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for subordinate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subordinate
Adjective
-
Even lesser-scale incidents like the Varsity Blues college admissions scandal and the Volkswagen emissions scandal erode trust in the institutions that help make our society possible and push it forward.—
Lindsey Witmer Collins,
Forbes.com,
7 Aug. 2025
-
Toronto’s Fred VanVleet appears to be the top target, but Miami’s Kyle Lowry, Utah’s Mike Conley and, perhaps to a lesser extent, Charlotte’s Terry Rozier have been linked to the team at various points.—
Staff Writer
Follow,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Feb. 2023
Noun
-
That film spawned irrationally confident underlings.—
Joel Lorenzi,
New York Times,
5 Jan. 2026
-
As of this week, thanks to the egocentric exertions of the current President and his obedient underlings and friends, the place has been renamed the Donald J. Trump and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.—
David Remnick,
New Yorker,
20 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Between 1995 and 2015, both publications—which have a combined circulation of some eighty thousand Canadian family doctors and pharmacists—regularly ran columns from the Motherisk team without subjecting them to peer review.—
Ben Taub,
New Yorker,
26 Jan. 2026
-
While the Jacksonian program helped produce a massive depression, the Jacksonians’ intention was to accelerate capitalism by democratizing it, not to tame it by subjecting it to government planning.—
Walter Russell Mead,
The Atlantic,
24 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Austin David Thompson, who was 15 at the time of the attack that authorities say began in his Raleigh neighborhood, had been poised to go on trial in state court in less than two weeks.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
22 Jan. 2026
-
As a collective, HQ Portfolio stocks delivered superior returns with less risk compared to the benchmark index; offering a smoother investment experience, as reflected in HQ Portfolio performance metrics.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The teen was Allie Miller, a 17-year-old junior at Davie County High School in Mocksville.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
20 Jan. 2026
-
The new Super Lite is designed to help juniors transition to an adult frame.—
Tim Newcomb,
Forbes.com,
19 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
As data center revenue starts to dominate sales, hyperscale ASIC initiatives transition into sustained volume, and customer diversification diminishes earnings variability, Marvell begins to resemble less of a cyclical component supplier and more of a structural AI infrastructure platform.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
-
The Wild dominated the offensive zone on a second period power play, getting five shots on the Wings goalie and getting another through that clanked the crossbar.—
Jess Myers,
Twin Cities,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
As police attempted to subdue Safar, another officer suffered facial injuries and a laceration to his torso.—
Brian Niemietz,
New York Daily News,
24 Jan. 2026
-
But not before Freddy applies an earlier safety lesson about harmful chemical cleaning products to subdue the suddenly menacing unicorn.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
24 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
And ultimately, the Supreme Court overruled those lower court rulings and did declare the embryos as children qualifying under the wrongful death statute.—
Dana Taylor,
USA TODAY,
1 Mar. 2024
-
Lower gas demand amid increasing supply has led to lower pump prices.—
Frank Witsil,
Detroit Free Press,
19 June 2023
Cite this Entry
“Subordinate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subordinate. Accessed 28 Jan. 2026.
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