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
Melling conveys the paradoxical elevation of Colin’s low self-esteem through the subservient relationship with an appealing pluckiness.
—
David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 18 May 2025
Unlike the two main parties in the United States, Fidesz holds no primaries, and it has been systematically deprived of internal diversity because all of its senior ranks are subservient to Orban.
—BÁlint Madlovics, Foreign Affairs, 10 Feb. 2025
Despite working in a position of power within the ecosystem of the hotel, they are still essentially subservient to all of their guests, if not significantly less well off.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 3 Apr. 2025
We are not subservient to a king or anyone else out of Washington.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 20 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for subservient
David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 18 May 2025
Unlike the two main parties in the United States, Fidesz holds no primaries, and it has been systematically deprived of internal diversity because all of its senior ranks are subservient to Orban.
—BÁlint Madlovics, Foreign Affairs, 10 Feb. 2025
Despite working in a position of power within the ecosystem of the hotel, they are still essentially subservient to all of their guests, if not significantly less well off.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 3 Apr. 2025
We are not subservient to a king or anyone else out of Washington.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 20 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for subservient
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subservient
Adjective
-
These institutions provide checks and balances in a way that would almost seem to draw on American traditions of government — with the profound difference that all institutions in Iran are ultimately subordinate to just one power, Khamenei's.—
Steve Inskeep,
NPR,
25 June 2025
-
Columban monasteries remained free of the control of local bishops and were instead directly subordinate to the pope.—
Bernd Roeck
June 16,
Literary Hub,
16 June 2025
Adjective
-
For several years, MLB held a draft in January and a secondary phase in June for players who had been previously drafted.—
Bodie De Silva,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 July 2025
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Twisting the top plate to one side reveals the underlying secondary plate, which houses a pry bar, magnifying glass (for examining tiny things or for starting fires) and bottle opener.—
Ben Coxworth
July 13,
New Atlas,
13 July 2025
Adjective
-
The scale asks whether a respondent tends to prefer children who are obedient, well behaved and well mannered or children who are independent, creative and considerate.—
Adam Eichen,
The Conversation,
11 June 2025
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Those who tend to favor obedient children are scored as having more authoritarian views.—
Adam Eichen,
The Conversation,
11 June 2025
Adjective
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Meet your new manager: software that watches, scores, and reports Modern AI systems are no longer passive dashboards.—
Andrew Fennell,
Forbes.com,
7 July 2025
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The same goes for using passive language or not taking ownership of what went wrong.—
Ashton Jackson,
CNBC,
7 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Subservient.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subservient. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.
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