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
Early gas-station signs were smaller than today’s, and still subordinated to the oil-company name and image.
—
Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 11 Apr. 2026
The brilliance of her artwork is many times subordinated to her biography.
—Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
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
However, the deeds that were supposed to to secure the loans were ultimately subordinated without CB&T’s knowledge, Zions said in the lawsuit.
—Leslie Picker, CNBC, 18 Oct. 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
Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 11 Apr. 2026
The brilliance of her artwork is many times subordinated to her biography.
—Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
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
However, the deeds that were supposed to to secure the loans were ultimately subordinated without CB&T’s knowledge, Zions said in the lawsuit.
—Leslie Picker, CNBC, 18 Oct. 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
-
The government lawyers characterized William’s order as an overreach that subjected the state to federal law.—
Claire Heddles,
Miami Herald,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Kylie Jenner is named in a new lawsuit from her former live-in housekeeper, who claims other staffers at the reality star’s home subjected her to religious and racial discrimination, as well as bullying, and that Jenner failed to act in her defense.—
Jami Ganz,
New York Daily News,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Another, from 2009, is dominated by the profile of what appears to be a guard dog gripping a black hunk of something unidentifiable.—
Ben Davis,
The New York Review of Books,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Until now, scientists believed those oceans were dominated almost entirely by vertebrate predators — fish, reptiles and eventually marine mammals.—
Ryan Brennan,
Kansas City Star,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Messi celebrated the winning goal in the arms of his teammates, another stadium conquered, with a smile anyone could understand.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
19 Apr. 2026
-
Ariana Grande has conquered global arenas, the Oscars stage and, now, another CinemaCon.—
Matt Donnelly,
Variety,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The siege, a success for Sulla, subdued the rebellious city back beneath the thumb of the Roman Republic.—
Taylor Mitchell Brown,
Scientific American,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Here, the spa is far smaller and subdued in design, although treatments are the same.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Atletico earned a spot in the final four courtesy of a quarter-final victory against Spanish rivals Barcelona, while Arsenal defeated Portuguese side Sporting CP.—
The Athletic Live Team,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
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Huarte defeated Woodbridge senior Brady Tallakson 7-6 (3), 6-1 in the CIF boys final at Libbey Park to capture the title one year after falling in the championship match.—
Dan Albano,
Oc Register,
26 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Subordinated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subordinated. Accessed 28 Apr. 2026.
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