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
Michael Lynch,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
Another maintenance officer months later reported Brady to the Massachusetts State Ethics Commission for having subordinates perform work at his private residence.
—
Rick Sobey,
Boston Herald,
10 June 2026
Landau quickly implemented a strict hierarchy at the agency, requiring subordinates to work up a chain of command before contacting her — an about-face from Frolich’s collaborative approach, attorneys said.
—
Shelly Bradbury,
Denver Post,
27 May 2026
Maybe Aziraphale’s hope of using him to bring about peace on Earth, the part of the plan his subordinates seem to find most objectionable, isn’t so misplaced after all.
—
Keith Phipps,
Vulture,
13 May 2026
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
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
In theory, a ceasefire would see the central government reassert more direct control of their subordinates, although concerns about assassinations might discourage them for rebuilding their electronic command and control systems, making that more difficult.
—
Michael Lynch,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
Another maintenance officer months later reported Brady to the Massachusetts State Ethics Commission for having subordinates perform work at his private residence.
—
Rick Sobey,
Boston Herald,
10 June 2026
Landau quickly implemented a strict hierarchy at the agency, requiring subordinates to work up a chain of command before contacting her — an about-face from Frolich’s collaborative approach, attorneys said.
—
Shelly Bradbury,
Denver Post,
27 May 2026
Maybe Aziraphale’s hope of using him to bring about peace on Earth, the part of the plan his subordinates seem to find most objectionable, isn’t so misplaced after all.
—
Keith Phipps,
Vulture,
13 May 2026
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
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
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The Canadian-Norwegian co-production for CBC and NRK follows a spoiled Norwegian factory heir from the 1800s, who forces a group of reluctant underlings to the American Wild West to gather material for his novel.
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But the occupant of the Oval Office doesn’t want his underlings engaging in self-promotion and vindictive lawsuits.
Verb
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Instead, the law subjects issuers to the Bank Secrecy Act, enforcing strict anti-money laundering and sanctions compliance programs.
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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).
Noun
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The world premiere on Sunday – in the presence of Illumination boss Chris Meledandri and director Pierre Coffin, who is also the origin of the minions’ unintelligible chatter – kicks off one of the biggest Annecy Film Festival’s yet.
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The two key attractions include the Bello Bay Cruise river rapids ride where yellow minions face off against purple minions and the Bello Bay Golf Cart Derby teacups ride.
Verb
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Google, Samsung, and the Android competition are forced to compress their Q3 schedules before rebuilding for the Q4 holiday season, while Apple demands carrier resources and dominates online sentiment.
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Determining which effect dominates has proven difficult because both processes involve complex physics that scientists have struggled to model accurately.
Noun
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Now, Lilith must team up with Cinderella to fight biker trolls, outrun evil henchmen, and escape the Screaming Woods.
-
Launched in early 1982, the original MOTU line-up saw He-Man and Skeletor joined by heroes Teela (at this point, the only female character), Man-at-Arms and Stratos; the morally ambiguous Zodac; and a couple of Skeletor's henchmen, Beast Man and Mer-Man.
Verb
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Just one week after one powerhouse tied the other, that match has been broken as Swift once again conquers the tally.
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That doesn’t mean robbing Billy of his shot at prying open Homelander’s skull, but with only a symbolic solution to Trump’s authoritarian rise — love conquers all!
Noun
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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.
Verb
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El Nino also subdues the hurricane season in the Atlantic because there is so much heat in the Pacific that outcompetes the Atlantic, Berardelli added.
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Royd subdues and binds her before taking off to restore the power.
Cite this Entry
“Subordinates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subordinates. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
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