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
Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Apr. 2026
Another amendment adopted to the bill sought to address multiuser accounts, chiefly by having parental and subordinate accounts.
—Nick Coltrain, Denver Post, 26 Apr. 2026
Ben Wheeler
april 29, Kansas City Star, 29 Apr. 2026
His public dynamic with Schoen is that of a boss and his subordinate.
—Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 27 Apr. 2026
John Schmidt, Chicago Tribune, 9 Jan. 2026
Similarly, plans to subordinate the West Bank Border Police to Ben-Gvir’s Ministry of National Security threaten to dismantle the unified command structure that has been instrumental in managing tensions in the occupied West Bank since 1967.
—Arie Perliger, The Conversation, 12 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for subordinate
Adjective
The suit, filed in San Diego Superior Court by the America First Policy Institute, also alleges that California’s sanctuary laws are subordinate to federal law.
—Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Apr. 2026
Another amendment adopted to the bill sought to address multiuser accounts, chiefly by having parental and subordinate accounts.
—Nick Coltrain, Denver Post, 26 Apr. 2026
Noun
More recently, The Star reported that Graves was named in court documents as part of a lawsuit against the Kansas City Board of Police Commissioners alleging Stacey Graves made rude gestures and remarks towards a subordinate before she was named chief.
—Ben Wheeler
april 29, Kansas City Star, 29 Apr. 2026
His public dynamic with Schoen is that of a boss and his subordinate.
—Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 27 Apr. 2026
Verb
Some of these transfers may run into conflicts with the existing police union contract; if that happens, Pallmeyer should not hesitate to use her power to subordinate those contractual provisions to the requirements of constitutional policing under the court decree.
—John Schmidt, Chicago Tribune, 9 Jan. 2026
Similarly, plans to subordinate the West Bank Border Police to Ben-Gvir’s Ministry of National Security threaten to dismantle the unified command structure that has been instrumental in managing tensions in the occupied West Bank since 1967.
—Arie Perliger, The Conversation, 12 Dec. 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
-
But the occupant of the Oval Office doesn’t want his underlings engaging in self-promotion and vindictive lawsuits.—
Robert B. Reich,
Hartford Courant,
28 Apr. 2026
-
And all the while underlings scrambled madly for a correct number.—
Armando Salguero OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Also, 2024 saw the largest data breaches in history, impacting billions of users and subjecting customers to the potential of having personal data exposed and ultimately exploited.—
Metro Creative Services,
Boston Herald,
18 May 2026
-
The incident subjected museum leadership to intense scrutiny over the security lapse, which independent investigations have framed as symptomatic of broader systemic infrastructure failures.—
Tessa Solomon,
ARTnews.com,
18 May 2026
Adjective
-
Some white farmers have indeed been killed, often during brutal armed robberies, but those cases account for less than one per cent of the country’s annual murder rate.—
Annie Hylton,
New Yorker,
14 May 2026
-
In general, though, the maximum amount that can be garnished for consumer debt is 25% of your disposable earnings, or the amount by which your weekly income exceeds 30 times the federal minimum wage, whichever is less.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
13 May 2026
Noun
-
The Mariners featured juniors Shay Kletke and Kenzie Bledl and freshman Raquel Pineda in the circle in the second round.—
Dan Albano,
Oc Register,
19 May 2026
-
Frankly, by the time her children were juniors in high school, she was just focused on getting them all into college.—
Sam Gillette,
PEOPLE,
19 May 2026
Verb
-
Public safety dominated the exchange, with sharp disagreements over crime trends, law enforcement authority and the role sheriffs should play in statewide policy.—
James Ward,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
-
The Seahawks dominated the Patriots in a 29-13 victory in February that secured the franchise’s second NFL title.—
Rob Maaddi,
Chicago Tribune,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
That comes to the Philippines in the form of war, as well as through the invocation, or establishment, of American-style modes of government and education that place Filipinos along this racial hierarchy, identifying them as these inferiors that need to be taught how to govern themselves.—
Lisa Deaderick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Sentiment has remained subdued ever since.—
David Goldman,
CNN Money,
14 May 2026
-
The atmosphere at the Palace game was strangely subdued, to begin with, lacking the edge or jeopardy that would usually be associated at this stage of the season.—
Daniel Taylor,
New York Times,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Subordinate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subordinate. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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