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
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Recent Examples of subordinates
Kelli Arseneau, jsonline.com, 3 Nov. 2025
The Charges The obstruction charge centers on allegations that Comey directed subordinates to remove or conceal those memos from FBI systems after his dismissal in May 2017, actions prosecutors claim impeded a lawful investigation into the unauthorized disclosure of classified material.
—Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025
The move came eight months after the controversial resignation of former AD Pat Hobbs, who had been under an internal investigation over an inappropriate relationship with gymnastics coach Umme Salim-Beasley, one of his subordinates.
—Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 16 Oct. 2025
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
In pursuing first the transport minister’s former subordinates and then the man himself, Putin was deploying a strategy that has also been seen elsewhere, including at the defense ministry.
—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
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
For food service establishments like KFC, this means people who devote more than 40% of their time during the work week performing the same work as their subordinates.
—Kelli Arseneau, jsonline.com, 3 Nov. 2025
The Charges The obstruction charge centers on allegations that Comey directed subordinates to remove or conceal those memos from FBI systems after his dismissal in May 2017, actions prosecutors claim impeded a lawful investigation into the unauthorized disclosure of classified material.
—Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025
The move came eight months after the controversial resignation of former AD Pat Hobbs, who had been under an internal investigation over an inappropriate relationship with gymnastics coach Umme Salim-Beasley, one of his subordinates.
—Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 16 Oct. 2025
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
In pursuing first the transport minister’s former subordinates and then the man himself, Putin was deploying a strategy that has also been seen elsewhere, including at the defense ministry.
—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
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
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Duncan, Kemp, and GOP Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger resisted efforts by the president, his underlings, and some GOP state legislators to reverse former President Joe Biden’s Georgia win by appointing an alternate slate of electors.—
Taylor Millard,
The Washington Examiner,
31 Oct. 2025
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The film, which debuted at the Busan International Film Festival, centers on gang underlings who, oddly, compete to avoid becoming the boss while pursuing personal ambitions.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
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But no actor, not even the forthright and sensitive Farrell, can survive the number of tight, sweaty closeups that cinematographer James Friend subjects him to.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
29 Oct. 2025
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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
Noun
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Still, this has always been a very personal conflict between Yennefer and Vilgefortz, which is why Vilgefortz finally stops letting his minions do all the fighting and jumps through the portal himself.—
Scott Meslow,
Vulture,
30 Oct. 2025
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Cederquist is one of scores of bad cops included in the book, as is one of his minions in the Stoughton crew, a guy named Calvin Butner.—
Howie Carr,
Boston Herald,
15 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Geographically, Sliwa and Cuomo perform best in Staten Island, while Mamdani dominates in Brooklyn.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Made in equal parts as creator Hugo Ensslin originally conceived it, the Green Chartreuse utterly dominates the experience, but back down the liqueur and boost the other two ingredients a touch, and the Tipperary is a bold but charming drink.—
Jeremy Repanich,
Robb Report,
25 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Besides being mugged by one of Iza’s henchmen, a brick was thrown through his window and his car was vandalized.—
Jesse Hyde,
Rolling Stone,
21 Oct. 2025
-
Clarke played villain henchmen Mac in the film partly set and filmed in Sydney, Australia.—
Mekishana Pierre,
Entertainment Weekly,
20 Oct. 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
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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
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Two returnees figuring prominently in the rotation are juniors Aidan Burke (a 6-3 guard) and Cade Pendleton (a 6-10 forward).—
Bill Center,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 Nov. 2025
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Girls soccer Sophomore Caoilainn Knight had two goals and an assist, while juniors Jenna Lehane and Ariana Rocci (two goals apiece) each added a spark as Blue Hills (10-2-2) cruised to a 6-0 shutout of Old Colony in the Mayflower Athletic Conference.—
Tyler McManus,
Boston Herald,
21 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Subordinates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subordinates. Accessed 9 Nov. 2025.
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