as in subjected
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
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Recent Examples of subordinated
White Out possesses the quest element that propels many a recovery memoir—except that in Clune’s case, the quest for sobriety is until the end consistently subordinated to the quest to score more drugs.
—
Scott Stossel, The Atlantic, 9 Sep. 2025
This is not to defend Cook, but rather to illustrate the parallelism and hypocrisy of the rule of law being subordinated to the law of the ruler.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 26 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
This is a major change for a Republican Party that used to believe that character and behavior mattered and couldn’t be subordinated or overlooked.
—Colin Pascal, Baltimore Sun, 4 Aug. 2025
Scott Stossel, The Atlantic, 9 Sep. 2025
This is not to defend Cook, but rather to illustrate the parallelism and hypocrisy of the rule of law being subordinated to the law of the ruler.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 26 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
This is a major change for a Republican Party that used to believe that character and behavior mattered and couldn’t be subordinated or overlooked.
—Colin Pascal, Baltimore Sun, 4 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subordinated
Verb
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Echoing his testimony from the third week of Combs’ New York trial, Nash says Combs also subjected him to violent physical assaults.—
Nancy Dillon,
Rolling Stone,
24 Sep. 2025
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Since the start of Russia’s invasion in 2022, Putin has been transparent about his objective—the destruction of Ukraine as an independent nation—and has subjected many people to almost unimaginable suffering in order to achieve it.—
ANDRIY ZAGORODNYUK,
Foreign Affairs,
23 Sep. 2025
Verb
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But one area that remained dominated by country crooners and fans, albeit amid gradual change, was Broadway.—
Leena Tailor,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Oct. 2025
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The area where the attack occurred is dominated by a majority-Jewish neighborhood situated right next to a majority-Muslim neighborhood.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Building on the site commenced in the 13th century under the instruction of Ibn al-Ahmar, the first member of the Nasrid family to be emir of Granada, and the sprawling compound was used by the emirs until Isabella and Ferdinand conquered the city in 1492.—
Fiona Mozley,
Travel + Leisure,
4 Oct. 2025
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Perhaps, executives say, Coors Field can never be conquered.—
Andy McCullough,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Another finding is that risk appetite is understandably subdued.—
Sheryl Estrada,
Fortune,
1 Oct. 2025
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Under normal circumstances, equalising in the 89th minute of an away game in the Champions League would prompt wild celebrations, but Tottenham Hotspur’s players and coaching staff were subdued after their 2-2 draw with Bodo/Glimt on Tuesday evening.—
Jay Harris,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The Dallas Cowboys defeated the New York Jets 37-22 on Sunday at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
6 Oct. 2025
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Maeve ends up turning Sam into the police, exhausted, dejected, and utterly defeated.—
Grace Byron,
Vulture,
6 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Subordinated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subordinated. Accessed 10 Oct. 2025.
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