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
Graham G. Dodds, The Conversation, 7 Oct. 2025
The third-term sheriff is accused of repeatedly harassing his female subordinates and threatening his chief deputy to keep it quiet.
—Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Oct. 2025
For instance, Gilbert was into extreme weather, Kelly said, and had subordinates brief him on terms such as bombogenesis.
—Stefan Fatsis, The Atlantic, 13 Sep. 2025
Starting in December of that year, a number of Starovoit’s former colleagues and subordinates were implicated in embezzlement of military funds—including 19 billion rubles (around $250 million) that had been allocated for defenses along the Ukrainian border.
—Andrei Kolesnikov, Foreign Affairs, 8 Sep. 2025
Participants would complete a physical fitness test, have their body fat measured, undergo a psychological evaluation, receive leadership evaluations from former peers and subordinates, and complete verbal and written communication assessments.
—Davis Winkie, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
Minnow noted companies are moving faster to crack down on workplace relationships between CEOs and subordinates, a trend that could ultimately boost the number of women in senior leadership roles.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 3 Sep. 2025
Intolerance of CEOs sleeping with their subordinates has come through the manosphere media turn intact.
—Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Time and again, when presented with the misdeeds of his friends, allies, subordinates, and appointees, Adams has feigned, at most, mild surprise.
—Eric Lach, New Yorker, 21 Aug. 2025
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
Put simply, the theory says the president should be able to issue orders to subordinates and to fire them at will.
—Graham G. Dodds, The Conversation, 7 Oct. 2025
The third-term sheriff is accused of repeatedly harassing his female subordinates and threatening his chief deputy to keep it quiet.
—Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Oct. 2025
For instance, Gilbert was into extreme weather, Kelly said, and had subordinates brief him on terms such as bombogenesis.
—Stefan Fatsis, The Atlantic, 13 Sep. 2025
Starting in December of that year, a number of Starovoit’s former colleagues and subordinates were implicated in embezzlement of military funds—including 19 billion rubles (around $250 million) that had been allocated for defenses along the Ukrainian border.
—Andrei Kolesnikov, Foreign Affairs, 8 Sep. 2025
Participants would complete a physical fitness test, have their body fat measured, undergo a psychological evaluation, receive leadership evaluations from former peers and subordinates, and complete verbal and written communication assessments.
—Davis Winkie, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
Minnow noted companies are moving faster to crack down on workplace relationships between CEOs and subordinates, a trend that could ultimately boost the number of women in senior leadership roles.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 3 Sep. 2025
Intolerance of CEOs sleeping with their subordinates has come through the manosphere media turn intact.
—Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Time and again, when presented with the misdeeds of his friends, allies, subordinates, and appointees, Adams has feigned, at most, mild surprise.
—Eric Lach, New Yorker, 21 Aug. 2025
Verb
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
-
Like his Washington, Bargatze’s Farnsworth regaled a trio of underlings (SNL cast members Bowen Yang, Mikey Day, and James Austin Johnson) with ridiculous yet accurate predictions for the future, in this case of TV.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
15 Sep. 2025
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Although the underlings complained about my methods, the cartel leaders, like Pedro and his boss, El Viejo, a key deputy of Pablo Escobar, were on my side.—
Martin Suarez,
Rolling Stone,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Park Soon-kwan, CEO of the battery maker Aricell, had been charged under the country’s industrial safety law, which subjects senior executives to prison terms of more than one year when found guilty in the event of fatal accidents.—
Reuters,
NBC news,
24 Sep. 2025
-
Today, the Court needlessly subjects countless more to these exact same indignities.—
Dan Gooding
Hannah Parry,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Rapidly spreading its toxic influence across the lands, Magatsu and its minions are a world-ending threat, and the early tutorial bit sees players square up against the baddie only to ultimately lose.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
18 Sep. 2025
-
What made Armani’s designs so appealing to Ovitz and his minions wasn’t just their confident power-suit cut.—
Benjamin Svetkey,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The place is always bustling with people of all ages, and lahmacun flies in and out of the massive stone oven that dominates the small space.—
Katie Nadworny,
Travel + Leisure,
18 Oct. 2025
-
After snagging the entire top 12 of the national singles chart last week, Taylor dominates once again with eight of the top 10, led by The Fate Of Ophelia which locks up the top spot for a second week.—
Lars Brandle,
Billboard,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
His henchmen quickly followed suit.—
Danny Makki,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
-
Over eight episodes, the brothers find themselves at the mercy of Mancuso — a former family friend — and his vicious henchmen, and they are forced to confront the emotional scars of growing up with an alcoholic father, who had gambled away his own restaurant.—
Max Gao,
HollywoodReporter,
21 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The winner of a duel conquers his opponent’s square, gaining more ground – the loser leaves the game.—
Leo Barraclough,
Variety,
13 Oct. 2025
-
For Nawaf Abdulhadi, joy comes when the choir conquers a difficult phrase in perfect unison.—
Billboard Arabia,
Billboard,
22 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
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
Noun
-
Qualifications The internship is open to rising or current sophomores, juniors and seniors and graduating seniors.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
12 Oct. 2025
-
There is much the 17-year-old has had to adapt to since joining from the Düsseldorf Panthers last summer, a team in the German Football League (GFL) juniors.—
Eduardo Tansley,
New York Times,
10 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Subordinates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subordinates. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.
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