subject 1 of 3

noun

ˈsəb-jikt How to pronounce subject (audio)
Definition of subjectnext
1
as in topic
a major object of interest or concern (as in a discussion or artistic composition) the subject of our discussion switched from who would be the next president to who was the greatest president in the nation's history

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in citizen
a person who owes allegiance to a government and is protected by it because of the tense situation in that country, British subjects were advised to return home as soon as possible

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in reason
something (as a belief) that serves as the basis for another thing he has no subject to protest this time, but that's never stopped him before

Synonyms & Similar Words

subject

2 of 3

verb

səb-ˈjekt How to pronounce subject (audio)
as in to dominate
to bring under one's control by force of arms Attila the Hun subjected most of Europe to his barbaric pillage

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

subject

3 of 3

adjective

as in dependent

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Dissimilar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word subject distinct from other similar nouns?

The words citizen and national are common synonyms of subject. While all three words mean "a person owing allegiance to and entitled to the protection of a sovereign state," subject implies allegiance to a personal sovereign such as a monarch.

the king's subjects

When would citizen be a good substitute for subject?

In some situations, the words citizen and subject are roughly equivalent. However, citizen is preferred for one owing allegiance to a state in which sovereign power is retained by the people and sharing in the political rights of those people.

the rights of a free citizen

When is national a more appropriate choice than subject?

The synonyms national and subject are sometimes interchangeable, but national designates one who may claim the protection of a state and applies especially to one living or traveling outside that state.

American nationals working in the Middle East

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of subject
Noun
One subject Ferguson reportedly does not want at the center of her new narrative is Andrew. — Lauryn Overhultz , Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 1 Sep. 2026 But the designer suffered a fall from grace in 2011 after he was arrested for antisemitic and racist incidents, the catalyst for the backlash to his selection as the subject of the Met's exhibit and its accompanying gala. — Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026
Verb
Yet subject and setting are not the same, only closely entwined. — Literary Hub, 28 Aug. 2026 The Big Ten’s ruling earlier Tuesday announced that a violation of the rules would subject a head coach to suspension for 50% of remaining games plus an undisclosed fine. — Mike Griffith, AJC.com, 26 Aug. 2026
Adjective
Science and math remain particularly difficult subject areas to staff, according to KCKPS. — Sofi Zeman august 19, Kansas City Star, 19 Aug. 2026 Flight modes include subject tracking modes, GPS positioning and Return to Home (RTH). — Chris McMullen, Space.com, 17 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for subject
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subject
  1. topic
  2. citizen
  3. reason
  4. dominate
  5. dependent
  6. matter
  7. national
  8. grounds
Noun
  • Big picture The league and the union are meeting regularly on various topics, but their disagreement on core economics — whether to move to a cap system — leaves little room for progress on the major issues.
    — Evan Drellich, New York Times, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Journalists working on environmental topics in sub-Saharan Africa are coming under attack, a new report found.
    — Preeti Jha, semafor.com, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of topic
Noun
  • Zelensky said a care home for elderly citizens and people living with disabilities was among the dozens of building damaged in the latest attack, and that more than 300 emergency services personnel were responding at the scene.
    — Svitlana Vlasova, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Experts have cautioned that Iran’s repressive regime is unlikely to be swayed by the suffering of ordinary citizens and is prepared to wait out economic hardship longer than Americans can endure high gas prices.
    — Jason Ma, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of citizen
Noun
  • After wrapping up its longest monthly losing streak on Wall Street in more than a decade, Google has started September by giving investors several reasons for optimism.
    — MacKenzie Sigalos,Drew Troast, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Another company might have seen the same 20% decline for entirely different reasons.
    — James Fratzke, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of reason
Verb
  • The crude market remains dominated by state producers, major energy companies, commodity merchants and large industrial consumers whose activity dwarfs that of individual traders.
    — Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 1 Sep. 2026
  • All-white kitchens, another style that uses one color to dominate a room, came in at number four for the most controversial decor trend.
    — Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of dominate
Adjective
  • Tennis has always been highly dependent on the weather; unlike in soccer or football, rain cancels or delays a match until the court is dry enough to be playable.
    — Aaron Short, Curbed, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Sanctioning that deal was always dependent on Liverpool being able to recruit a suitable replacement for the Netherlands international at an acceptable price.
    — James Pearce, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of dependent
Noun
  • Conduct a Soil Test Taking samples of the soil from several places in the lawn will provide information about soil acidity (pH), nutrient levels, and organic matter content.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 29 Aug. 2026
  • From obscurity to the top of the football world, all in the matter of a few days.
    — Sam McDowell August 29, Kansas City Star, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of matter
Noun
  • Dozens of Americans were reported missing by Nepal's tourism board as part of hundreds of foreign nationals who were in the area at the time of the flood.
    — Irene Wright, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Over 10,000 people have been rescued from the regions, including over 323 foreign nationals.
    — Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of national
Noun
  • What to do nearby Taking an afternoon away from the resort grounds to explore what the surrounding area has to offer is a great way to enrich the all-inclusive experience.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Europe spent two years interdicting on sanctions grounds and found the tool blunt.
    — Charles Edward Gehrke, Fortune, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of grounds

Phrases Containing subject

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subintervals
subject
subjected
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Cite this Entry

“Subject.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subject. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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