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
The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 26 Mar. 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
Analysts say the campaign is also a way for Xi, who is in his 14th year in power, to remove potential rivals and ensure absolute loyalty among his subordinates.
—ABC News, 7 Mar. 2026
With various factions controlled by key lieutenants, some of them close relatives, Oseguera’s moniker has been invoked to instill terror and keep subordinates in line, Craine said.
—Senior Editor, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2026
In 2024, Billie Eilish and her brother Finneas left Wasserman Music for WME shortly after a Daily Mail report alleged Wasserman had engaged in inappropriate relationships with multiple female subordinates.
—Hattie Lindert, Pitchfork, 6 Feb. 2026
Such feuds with subordinates are one of the challenges McFadden faces in his third run for sheriff.
—Ryan Oehrli, Charlotte Observer, 29 Jan. 2026
Fleming was one of at least nine BPD employees who filed complaints, which boiled down to concerns that Lee engaged in unethical behavior, repeatedly retaliated against subordinates, and behaved unprofessionally while creating a hostile work environment.
—Alex Brizee, Idaho Statesman, 28 Jan. 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 2024, Ronnie Reese, Johnson’s first press secretary, kept his job for months after harassment allegations were lodged against him by female subordinates.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 26 Mar. 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
Analysts say the campaign is also a way for Xi, who is in his 14th year in power, to remove potential rivals and ensure absolute loyalty among his subordinates.
—ABC News, 7 Mar. 2026
With various factions controlled by key lieutenants, some of them close relatives, Oseguera’s moniker has been invoked to instill terror and keep subordinates in line, Craine said.
—Senior Editor, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2026
In 2024, Billie Eilish and her brother Finneas left Wasserman Music for WME shortly after a Daily Mail report alleged Wasserman had engaged in inappropriate relationships with multiple female subordinates.
—Hattie Lindert, Pitchfork, 6 Feb. 2026
Such feuds with subordinates are one of the challenges McFadden faces in his third run for sheriff.
—Ryan Oehrli, Charlotte Observer, 29 Jan. 2026
Fleming was one of at least nine BPD employees who filed complaints, which boiled down to concerns that Lee engaged in unethical behavior, repeatedly retaliated against subordinates, and behaved unprofessionally while creating a hostile work environment.
—Alex Brizee, Idaho Statesman, 28 Jan. 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
-
That’s striking, considering that execs tend to be far more enthusiastic about the tech compared to their underlings.—
Frank Landymore,
Futurism,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Despite the scary Instagram post, gang leader Lamar Williams was still convicted this month of a 2013 murder in the Bronx, and the two underlings accused of trying to keep him out of prison could wind up joining him.—
Leonard Greene,
New York Daily News,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Jude relocates this tale of troubled conscience to present-day Cluj-Napoca, in Transylvania, and subjects it to a corrosively cynical twist.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Hjorth, a devoted reader of Kierkegaard, subjects the mothers in her novels to a special kind of moral scrutiny.—
Elaine Blair,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Noem’s minions would defy and frustrate federal judges seeking basic information from DHS about the department’s compliance with court orders.—
Clarence Page,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Mar. 2026
-
Instead, his minions, so afraid of earning his wrath, have remained quiet.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The player who ultimately dominates the board takes home a prize of JPY10 million yen ($63,000).—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Lesion location frequently determines which symptom dominates, and some adolescents present only with debilitating menstrual pain that has been normalized within their families for generations.—
Sarah Berg,
STAT,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Researchers argued that career anxiety under autocracy creates both pro-regime henchmen and anti-regime plotters.—
Rafil Kroll-Zaidi,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Mar. 2026
-
The global Jewish community is now an active front in the warfare of the Middle East — the war against the Iranian regime, and the war against its henchmen, the Houthis, Hamas, and Hezbollah.—
Joshua M. Davidson,
New York Daily News,
22 Mar. 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 1 Apr. 2026.
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