Synonyms of subordinates

subordinates 1 of 2

noun

plural of subordinate

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

• underlings
• minions
• henchmen
• inferiors
• juniors
• assistants
• followers
• sidekicks
• deputies
• attendants
• aides
• menials
• stewards
• retainers
• domestics
• lackeys
• adjutants
• flunkies
• seconds
• coadjutors
• mates
• aids
• helpmates
• helpmeets
• second fiddles

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• superiors
• seniors
• leaders
• bosses
• foremen
• chiefs
• masters
• heads
• captains
• headmen
• taskmasters
• helmsmen
• kingpins

subordinates

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of subordinate

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

• subjects
• dominates
• conquers
• subdues
• defeats
• subjugates
• overcomes
• enslaves
• vanquishes
• pacifies
• reduces
• overpowers
• beats
• crushes
• prevails (over)
• licks
• whips
• mows (down)
• smashes
• annihilates
• triumphs (over)
• routs
• suppresses
• thrashes
• wallops
• silences
• represses
• quells
• drubs
• squashes
• skunks
• squelches
• clamps down (on)
• smothers
• cracks down (on)
• puts down
• snuffs (out)
• clobbers
• trounces
• quashes
• breaks

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• discharges
• liberates
• springs
• enfranchises
• releases
• frees
• emancipates
• unbinds
• unfetters
• manumits
• uncages
• unchains

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of subordinates

Noun

No matter how powerful, dictators have always needed subordinates—censors, propagandists, security guards, police officers, intelligence analysts, and local bureaucrats—to carry out their orders. — Seva Gunitsky, Foreign Affairs, 1 Oct. 2026

Investigators have accused one of his subordinates of running a fraud scheme, though Kravchenko himself has not been charged or named a suspect. — ABC News, 14 Sep. 2026

Additionally, while there are government rules against federal employees accepting gifts from subordinates or officials who make less than themselves, subordinates are not barred from receiving gifts from superiors. — Kristin Brown, CBS News, 9 Sep. 2026

Many Hindus today identify as Shaivas, Vaishnavas, or Shaktas, sectarian groups that, respectively, worship Shiva, Vishnu, or Shakti as supreme, with all other deities considered as manifestations or subordinates. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Aug. 2026

The judge found that the three did, in fact, violate the charter, which states that council members may not interfere with appointments or removals in the city manager’s office, or give orders to the city manager’s subordinates. — Raisa Habersham, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2026

More broadly, struggling to name specific contributions by others even when specifically prompted to do so or remaining vague about developing subordinates are flags that the candidate may engage in toxic patterns. — Harvard Business Review, 24 Aug. 2026

Impressive Humility with peers, and something else entirely with subordinates. — Mary Crossan, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026

The supporting figures are colorful enough, though Akkabi’s sneering chief villain arguably makes less of an impression than his subordinates. — Dennis Harvey, Variety, 26 July 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