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
Providing some respite from the violent mayhem are scenes in which Manafort stares intently at computer screens tracking what’s going on and the new MI6 chief (Ackie) barks orders at her underlings.
—
Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 28 Jan. 2026
One of her underlings, an eager-beaver new recruit (George MacKay) in the records department, is the case manager.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 26 Jan. 2026
That film spawned irrationally confident underlings.
—Joel Lorenzi, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2026
What began as a humorous meme page capturing the daily struggle of entertainment underlings evolved into a multi-platform media company and educational ecosystem.
—Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 10 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for underling
Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 28 Jan. 2026
One of her underlings, an eager-beaver new recruit (George MacKay) in the records department, is the case manager.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 26 Jan. 2026
That film spawned irrationally confident underlings.
—Joel Lorenzi, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2026
What began as a humorous meme page capturing the daily struggle of entertainment underlings evolved into a multi-platform media company and educational ecosystem.
—Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 10 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for underling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for underling
Noun
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Such feuds with subordinates are one of the challenges McFadden faces in his third run for sheriff.—
Ryan Oehrli,
Charlotte Observer,
29 Jan. 2026
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Merz stressed Europe must strengthen its military, technology, and economy while remaining equal partners — not subordinates — to the United States within NATO.—
Geir Moulson,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Nicholas Mongiardo-Cooper’s Beadle Bamford, the judge’s henchman, has a malicious ebullience all his own.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Feb. 2026
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Appropriately, Stromberg’s henchman is named Jaws, played by the inimitable Richard Kiel, whose metal teeth and imposing physique make for some of the franchise’s most memorable fight scenes.—
Sezin Devi Koehler,
Entertainment Weekly,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Ackie mostly barks orders at her minions to go get him, while Nighy in his home plays the bad guy demanding blood.—
Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
28 Jan. 2026
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His latest lesson was giving the finger to a worker at a Michigan auto plant who yelled at him for his handling of the Jeffrey Epstein controversy, thereby giving license to his minions to do the same in any conflict or disagreement.—
Bob Kustra,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Underling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/underling. Accessed 9 Feb. 2026.
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