as in subordinate
one who is of lower rank and typically under the authority of another
the real estate tycoon has a whole army of underlings to attend to the details
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of underling
The role of Shell, ousted from his previous role running NBCUniversal after acknowledging an inappropriate relationship with an underling, has been controversial.
—
Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2025
Fierstein's character works at a New York City cable company, where his underling, the genius played by Goldblum, first pieces together that the signal sent among the alien ships all perched over Earth's major landmarks is actually a countdown.
—Jordan Hoffman, EW.com, 4 July 2025
Back in 2015, the publication reported that cartels had employed hacker crews to set up a secure network for bosses and underlings to use.
—Thomas Brewster, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
Flynn, who is married, also asked for the detective’s underwear, according to the suit, promising her a Commander’s Day — a day off that a supervisor can grant to an underling for exemplary police work, such as a good arrest.
—Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 5 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for underling
Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2025
Fierstein's character works at a New York City cable company, where his underling, the genius played by Goldblum, first pieces together that the signal sent among the alien ships all perched over Earth's major landmarks is actually a countdown.
—Jordan Hoffman, EW.com, 4 July 2025
Back in 2015, the publication reported that cartels had employed hacker crews to set up a secure network for bosses and underlings to use.
—Thomas Brewster, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
Flynn, who is married, also asked for the detective’s underwear, according to the suit, promising her a Commander’s Day — a day off that a supervisor can grant to an underling for exemplary police work, such as a good arrest.
—Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 5 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for underling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for underling
Noun
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Participants would complete a physical fitness test, have their body fat measured, undergo a psychological evaluation, receive leadership evaluations from former peers and subordinates, and complete verbal and written communication assessments.—
Davis Winkie,
USA Today,
4 Sep. 2025
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The heat on Nestlé is shifting from its CEO, who was fired this week for having an undisclosed affair with a subordinate, to its board, whose initial, apparently cursory, investigation failed to uncover evidence that a later probe uncovered.—
Rohan Goswami,
semafor.com,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The citizens of Venezuela don't deserve to live under the tyrannical rule of Maduro or any of his henchmen!—
Dan Gooding
Gabe Whisnant,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 Sep. 2025
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But things just continue to go wrong for both the brains of the operation (Al Pacino) and his henchman (John Cazale).—
Kevin Jacobsen,
EW.com,
2 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Vex can use that energy to empower herself, or channel it to conjure deadly minions that fight alongside her.—
Griff Griffin,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Sep. 2025
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Later in the season, Ellie — now trying to hunt down Abby to deliver the same fate to her — brutally kills Nora, one of Abby's minions.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
26 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Underling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/underling. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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