as in underlings
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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in subjects
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 subordinates
Lawrence K. Altman, STAT, 7 May 2026
Cincinnati's now-former police chief, once sued by subordinates for alleged discrimination against White male officers, has been fired.
—Peter D'abrosca, FOXNews.com, 24 Apr. 2026
That promotes stability, because the president won’t feel the need to fire subordinates to keep his job secure.
—Daniel C. Vock, Chicago Tribune, 20 Apr. 2026
Presidents are usually removed from voters, separated by layers of security and surrounded by adoring subordinates.
—Michelle L. Price, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2026
But inappropriate behavior toward and with subordinates is too often not a shocking secret within the halls of Congress.
—Michelle Cottle, Mercury News, 16 Apr. 2026
His dismissal of General Randy George, the Army’s chief of staff early in his term, along with two subordinates, was without precedent.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 8 Apr. 2026
Hegseth has created a command climate in which subordinates might fear defending their educational programs.
—Kori Schake, The Atlantic, 22 Mar. 2026
From around January to June 2022, the couple tricked unknowing subordinates into adding fake vendors to the company's system, officials said.
—Dan Raby, CBS News, 19 Mar. 2026
Hana Kiros, The Atlantic, 3 Feb. 2026
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
Gael García Bernal brilliantly subordinates his stardom to Diaz’s discerning camera, disappearing into the role of the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan, who, at the start of the 16th century, navigated a crew to Southeast Asia after convincing the Spanish crown to fund his journey.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 5 Aug. 2025
Noun
Over the years, Braunwald continued his work, his brusque manner occasionally rubbing his subordinates and colleagues the wrong way.
—Lawrence K. Altman, STAT, 7 May 2026
Cincinnati's now-former police chief, once sued by subordinates for alleged discrimination against White male officers, has been fired.
—Peter D'abrosca, FOXNews.com, 24 Apr. 2026
That promotes stability, because the president won’t feel the need to fire subordinates to keep his job secure.
—Daniel C. Vock, Chicago Tribune, 20 Apr. 2026
Presidents are usually removed from voters, separated by layers of security and surrounded by adoring subordinates.
—Michelle L. Price, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2026
But inappropriate behavior toward and with subordinates is too often not a shocking secret within the halls of Congress.
—Michelle Cottle, Mercury News, 16 Apr. 2026
His dismissal of General Randy George, the Army’s chief of staff early in his term, along with two subordinates, was without precedent.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 8 Apr. 2026
Hegseth has created a command climate in which subordinates might fear defending their educational programs.
—Kori Schake, The Atlantic, 22 Mar. 2026
From around January to June 2022, the couple tricked unknowing subordinates into adding fake vendors to the company's system, officials said.
—Dan Raby, CBS News, 19 Mar. 2026
Verb
China subordinates the goal of improving foreign populations’ health outcomes to establishing dependency on its medical tech.
—Hana Kiros, The Atlantic, 3 Feb. 2026
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
Gael García Bernal brilliantly subordinates his stardom to Diaz’s discerning camera, disappearing into the role of the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan, who, at the start of the 16th century, navigated a crew to Southeast Asia after convincing the Spanish crown to fund his journey.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 5 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subordinates
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
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Rather than discarding the residual sludge left behind after conventional anaerobic digestion, the system subjects it to an additional treatment stage known as Advanced Wet Oxidation and Steam Explosion (AWOEx).—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
9 May 2026
-
Ridestore subjects materials to failure testing during both development and production, evaluating bond strength in laminated membranes, water-repellency performance and trim durability before materials move into manufacturing.—
Alexandra Harrell,
Footwear News,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
Your president and his minions spread war, chaos, lies and economic instability.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
27 Apr. 2026
-
There’s a steadiness to Tung/Wonder Woman that stands out for its quiet authority in a frequently goofy landscape peppered with poisonous robes and finger-eating minions.—
Sarah Shachat,
IndieWire,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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According to Fermilab, the project could help answer some of the biggest physics mysteries, including why matter dominates over antimatter in the universe and how the universe evolved after the Big Bang.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
8 May 2026
-
This final rule almost makes sense; the idea is that a planet dominates its volume of space gravitationally, and any smaller objects in its orbital vicinity will either get swept up or ejected.—
Phil Plait,
Scientific American,
8 May 2026
Noun
-
Key witnesses in the government’s case included Spann’s top henchmen, who cooperated with prosecutors in hopes for leniency.—
Jason Meisner,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Apr. 2026
-
This is potentially disastrous, given that Josh is now in the custody of the chairwoman’s henchmen.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
They're initially separated, because of John's military job that took him away from his family for so long, but their expedition brings them closer again, reminding them that love conquers all – even when you're lost in space.—
Sergio Pereira,
Space.com,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Cruise down Market Street—skimming past buzzing tech hubs—while your autonomous vehicle conquers steep hills and tight turns with uncanny precision.—
Lewis Nunn,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 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
-
Royd subdues and binds her before taking off to restore the power.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
13 Nov. 2025
-
For those who are more into curves than angles, the Bialetti Moon takes all the functional elements of the moka stovetop espresso maker and subdues them with a rounded stainless steel silhouette.—
Yelena Moroz Alpert,
Architectural Digest,
10 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Subordinates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subordinates. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
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