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
Ariel Cohen, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Her peer and subordinate evaluations were mixed.
—Davis Winkie, USA Today, 6 Sep. 2025
Ana Nicolaci Da Costa, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2025
The move came eight months after the controversial resignation of former AD Pat Hobbs, who had been under an internal investigation over an inappropriate relationship with gymnastics coach Umme Salim-Beasley, one of his subordinates.
—Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 16 Oct. 2025
Thomas Moynihan, Big Think, 20 Aug. 2025
Anyone who diverges from progressive orthodoxy is excluded from faculty ranks, free inquiry is subordinated to activism, and taxpayer funds flow into administrative bureaucracies that enforce political correctness.
—Ilya Shapiro, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for subordinate
Adjective
Russia Has Become the Junior Partner For Moscow, the pipeline cements its subordinate role in its partnership with China.
—Ariel Cohen, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Her peer and subordinate evaluations were mixed.
—Davis Winkie, USA Today, 6 Sep. 2025
Noun
Laurent Freixe was dismissed for failing to disclose a romantic relationship with a direct subordinate, which breached Nestlé’s code of business conduct.
—Ana Nicolaci Da Costa, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2025
The move came eight months after the controversial resignation of former AD Pat Hobbs, who had been under an internal investigation over an inappropriate relationship with gymnastics coach Umme Salim-Beasley, one of his subordinates.
—Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 16 Oct. 2025
Verb
Disturbing contemporary audiences, the resulting superintelligence subordinates all human individuals — absorbing them as mere neurons in its global cortex.
—Thomas Moynihan, Big Think, 20 Aug. 2025
Anyone who diverges from progressive orthodoxy is excluded from faculty ranks, free inquiry is subordinated to activism, and taxpayer funds flow into administrative bureaucracies that enforce political correctness.
—Ilya Shapiro, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Aug. 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
-
The film, which debuted at the Busan International Film Festival, centers on gang underlings who, oddly, compete to avoid becoming the boss while pursuing personal ambitions.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
20 Oct. 2025
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The stories involving Olympia’s other underlings, Sarah Franklin (Leah Lewis) and Billy Martinez (David Del Rio), were often minimized and isolated.—
Noel Murray,
Vulture,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
But, yeah, part of [building Carol’s cul-de-sac] was not wanting to subject anyone else to that, [especially] any nice homeowner who would rent you their house.—
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Oct. 2025
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But no actor, not even the forthright and sensitive Farrell, can survive the number of tight, sweaty closeups that cinematographer James Friend subjects him to.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
29 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
If the tax credits expire, people earning less than four times the federal poverty level — about $62,600 for an individual or $128,600 for a family of four — will still qualify for the standard ACA subsidies, Cox said.—
Berkeley Lovelace Jr,
NBC news,
31 Oct. 2025
-
Keep reading to shop even more similar pieces for less than $50 each.—
Rylee Johnston,
PEOPLE,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
One of Gorst’s closest friends on the European pro tour going back to their days as juniors was Vitaliy Patsura, a Ukrainian player who was in Kyiv when the war started.—
Jeremy Herb,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Arroyave, who is 18 years his junior, is Hopkins' third wife.—
Lia Beck,
PEOPLE,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Trade discussions dominated those meetings, but there were signs of growing tensions over Beijing’s surging conventional and nuclear arsenal.—
Tamara Qiblawi,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
-
The Bills' run-heavy offense -- which has piled up a league-high 1,292 yards in just eight games -- should dominate this one and allow Buffalo to not only win, but cover the substantial spread.—
Tyler Everett,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Those trends have created a new equilibrium that are keeping a lid on unemployment even as hiring stays subdued.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
3 Nov. 2025
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Mike Vrabel’s celebration was subdued, one befitting of the way this game ended, a tougher, more stressful challenge than the five consecutive wins that preceded it.—
Chad Graff,
New York Times,
3 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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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 8 Nov. 2025.
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