SUBORDINATE Synonyms: 123 Similar and Opposite Words

subordinate 1 of 3

adjective

sə-ˈbȯr-də-nət

Definition of subordinate

as in lesser

having not so great importance or rank as another his contention is that environment plays a subordinate role to heredity in determining what we become

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

subordinate

2 of 3

noun

sə-ˈbȯr-də-nət

as in underling

one who is of lower rank and typically under the authority of another subordinates do most of the actual creation of the famous designer's clothing designs

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

subordinate

3 of 3

verb

sə-ˈbȯr-də-ˌnāt

as in to subject

to bring under one's control by force of arms it is one of the lessons of history that more powerful civilizations often subordinate weaker ones

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 subordinate

Adjective

Johnson frequently uses his saxophone to control a sampler or drum machine, triggering changes in loops and effects, but the technology is ultimately subordinate to physical expression. — Spin Staff, SPIN, 9 Sep. 2026 If true, then the wearer wasn’t a man named Pilate, but a subordinate or enslaved person under his oversight who used the ring as a wax or clay seal for various materials and documents. — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 3 Sep. 2026

Noun

Many Hindus today identify as Shaivas, Vaishnavas, or Shaktas, sectarian groups that, respectively, worship Shiva, Vishnu, or Shakti as supreme, with all other deities considered as manifestations or subordinates. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Aug. 2026 The judge found that the three did, in fact, violate the charter, which states that council members may not interfere with appointments or removals in the city manager’s office, or give orders to the city manager’s subordinates. — Raisa Habersham, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2026

Verb

With judges and prosecutors subordinate to the Communist Party, fair-trial guarantees would remain limited even with private practice, and independent lawyers’ groups have repeatedly been denied registration. — Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 4 Aug. 2026 Those firms that subordinated customer value to residual claims frequently paid a price; those who reversed the order compounded advantage. — Steve Denning, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for subordinate

Recent Examples of Synonyms for subordinate

Adjective

Even lesser-scale incidents like the Varsity Blues college admissions scandal and the Volkswagen emissions scandal erode trust in the institutions that help make our society possible and push it forward.

— Lindsey Witmer Collins, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025
Toronto’s Fred VanVleet appears to be the top target, but Miami’s Kyle Lowry, Utah’s Mike Conley and, perhaps to a lesser extent, Charlotte’s Terry Rozier have been linked to the team at various points.

— Staff Writer Follow, Los Angeles Times, 3 Feb. 2023

Definition of lesser

Noun

Ellison is said to be a boss who is loyal to his underlings, particularly with his own hires.

— Michael Schneider, Variety, 30 Sep. 2026
Later, Bianco directed his underlings to begin counting those ballots by hand — a potential felony under state law, which forbids anyone other than election officials from so much as touching a ballot container.

— Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of underling

Verb

The company then needs to incorporate that hardware into a complete Neutron first stage, and then subject that stage to a battery of tests.

— Mike Wall, Space.com, 16 Oct. 2026
According to prosecutors, intelligence officers attacked him from behind, causing a serious back injury, and subsequently subjected him to electric shocks.

— Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of subject

Adjective

The Dells’ money will go to children in ZIP codes with median incomes of $150,000 or less, giving millions of families a chance to start building wealth early.

— Sydney Lake, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026
Agility Robotics’ next humanoid robot is designed to spend more of the day moving goods and less time plugged into a charger.

— Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of less

Noun

The 21-year-old junior immediately could be seen favoring his right arm and went to the locker room, emerging a few minutes afterward with his arm in a sling.

— Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2026
And the third only a junior at Santa Margarita doing things only Mosley genes allow.

— Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of junior

Verb

Apple and Samsung also continue to dominate the smartphone market.

— Sam Birchall, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2026
The problem for Weiss and the new leadership is that the US’ relationship with Israel and Israel’s military actions in the Middle East seems increasingly poised to dominate electoral politics in the coming years.

— semafor.com, semafor.com, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of dominate

Adjective

Despite those lower court rulings, the practice has continued nationally, said Gregory Chen, the senior director of government relations for the Immigration Lawyers Association.

— Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 3 Sep. 2025
And ultimately, the Supreme Court overruled those lower court rulings and did declare the embryos as children qualifying under the wrongful death statute.

— Dana Taylor, USA TODAY, 1 Mar. 2024

Definition of lower

Noun

Someone briskly assessing workmanship or disparaging a social inferior?

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Aug. 2026
That comes to the Philippines in the form of war, as well as through the invocation, or establishment, of American-style modes of government and education that place Filipinos along this racial hierarchy, identifying them as these inferiors that need to be taught how to govern themselves.

— Lisa Deaderick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Mar. 2026

Definition of inferior

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suboptimal

subordinate

subordinated

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Style

“Subordinate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subordinate. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of subordinate

adjective

noun

verb

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