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
Their days are fully structured so they are used to being subservient.
—
Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025
The White House then turned to Washington, which presented a unique opportunity for Trump to push his tough-on-crime agenda because of its subservient status to the federal government.
—Mike Pesoli, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2025
In addition, the portrayal of the cultural setup between the dominant Alba and subservient Colorata is handled in a refreshingly non-preachy manner.
—Ollie Barder, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Moscow may brush off this latest setback, its rigidly subservient state media able to sustain any narrative the Kremlin chooses.
—Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 2 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for subservient
Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025
The White House then turned to Washington, which presented a unique opportunity for Trump to push his tough-on-crime agenda because of its subservient status to the federal government.
—Mike Pesoli, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2025
In addition, the portrayal of the cultural setup between the dominant Alba and subservient Colorata is handled in a refreshingly non-preachy manner.
—Ollie Barder, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Moscow may brush off this latest setback, its rigidly subservient state media able to sustain any narrative the Kremlin chooses.
—Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 2 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for subservient
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subservient
Adjective
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The inspector general's investigation found that Reece and Ruff — who were supervisor and subordinate — did not disclose their romantic relationship, which is a violation of a city executive order.—
Nushrat Rahman,
Freep.com,
6 Jan. 2026
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Santa’s elves are subordinate Clauses.—
Richard Lederer,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
20 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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Tickets on the secondary market as of Thursday night ranged from $357 to more than $25,000.—
Victor Jacobo,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
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Now, buyers are after two primary bedrooms and one secondary.—
Lew Sichelman,
Miami Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The generals reduced even their limited need for an obedient prime minister.—
Mohammed Hanif,
Time,
1 Dec. 2025
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Since Francoism promoted an image of women as obedient wives and self-sacrificing mothers devoted to the Catholic family model, Republican women were demonized as immoral, dangerous and unworthy of motherhood.—
Zaya Rustamova,
The Conversation,
19 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Other times, the passive partner is employed but does almost no parenting or caring for the home.—
Oona Metz,
Time,
13 Jan. 2026
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From start to finish, the Red Sox deployed a careless, thoughtless, and passive stratagem.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Boston Herald,
12 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Subservient.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subservient. Accessed 15 Jan. 2026.
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