1
as in subordinate
very willing to obey someone else
She was an equal partner in the marriage and not a subservient wife.
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2
as in secondary
having a less important role, job, or place as something else
The employees used to build things by hand but now were subservient to automated equipment that handled much of production.
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Recent Examples of subservient
Why, Buren asked, should the artist accept this subservient role?
—
Daniel Birnbaum, Artforum, 2 Apr. 2026
For Liu, by contrast, the study of the classics seemed almost subservient to a process of cultural empowerment.
—Chang Che, New Yorker, 8 Mar. 2026
This plan, during such a critical period, is nothing less than a dereliction of duty and a further sign of how the Congressional majority is content to be subservient to this administration.
—The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 5 Mar. 2026
Sometimes the humble may be seen as meek, subservient or self-abasing.
—Barret Michalec, The Conversation, 19 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for subservient
Daniel Birnbaum, Artforum, 2 Apr. 2026
For Liu, by contrast, the study of the classics seemed almost subservient to a process of cultural empowerment.
—Chang Che, New Yorker, 8 Mar. 2026
This plan, during such a critical period, is nothing less than a dereliction of duty and a further sign of how the Congressional majority is content to be subservient to this administration.
—The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 5 Mar. 2026
Sometimes the humble may be seen as meek, subservient or self-abasing.
—Barret Michalec, The Conversation, 19 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for subservient
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subservient
Adjective
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There were four on each of the two ships in the Franklin expedition, with the best candidates being Thomas Armitage, gunroom steward, or William Gibson, subordinate officers’ steward, both of whom served on the HMS Terror.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
8 May 2026
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The researchers found that Ourry’s head was marked out in the artwork before it was properly painted, while Jersey’s head was not, suggesting that Jersey was not painted during a sitting, possibly because Jersey was regarded as subordinate, the trust said.—
Amarachi Orie,
CNN Money,
8 May 2026
Adjective
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While the Lynx lost a close 91-90 contest to the Dream on Saturday, the game itself was secondary to the continued vitriol against ICE stirring in the WNBA and NBA.—
Alejandro Avila OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
11 May 2026
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While the damages award was overturned by an appeals court in 2024, that court gave Sony a partial win by finding that Cox was guilty of contributory copyright infringement—a type of secondary liability for contributing to others’ infringement.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
11 May 2026
Adjective
-
Just think of all those vacant Madonnas, structurally perfect compositions, and obedient daydreams of antiquity.—
Zachary Fine,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
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Always obedient, Agnes happily welcomes Daisy despite Shu’s warnings.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
7 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Putin looks passive, even absent.—
Joshua Yaffa,
New Yorker,
8 May 2026
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Finally, early warning systems employing acoustic sensors, optical trackers, and passive radio frequency detection provide critical situational awareness, enabling timely engagement of incoming UAV threats.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Subservient.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subservient. Accessed 15 May. 2026.
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