submissive
adjective
sub·mis·sive
səb-ˈmi-siv 
: submitting to others
submissive employees
submissively
adverb
submissiveness
noun
Synonyms
Examples of submissive in a Sentence
it's not in her nature to be submissive
Recent Examples on the Web
Women were expected to be apologetic and submissive.
—
Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2024
Alice is Zoey’s domme — the dominant partner in the relationship — and Zoey is the sub, or submissive.
—Kayla Levy, Curbed, 11 Dec. 2024
The story painted Neeleman as a submissive, perhaps overwhelmed wife to a husband chasing his personal dream of running a ranch and having a large family.
—Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 5 Dec. 2024
Adherents included conspiracy theorists who claimed fluoridation was a plot to make people submissive to government power.
—Mike Stobbe, Los Angeles Times, 24 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for submissive 
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Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2024
Alice is Zoey’s domme — the dominant partner in the relationship — and Zoey is the sub, or submissive.
—Kayla Levy, Curbed, 11 Dec. 2024
The story painted Neeleman as a submissive, perhaps overwhelmed wife to a husband chasing his personal dream of running a ranch and having a large family.
—Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 5 Dec. 2024
Adherents included conspiracy theorists who claimed fluoridation was a plot to make people submissive to government power.
—Mike Stobbe, Los Angeles Times, 24 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for submissive
Dictionary Entries Near submissive
Cite this Entry
“Submissive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/submissive. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
submissive
adjective
sub·mis·sive
səb-ˈmis-iv
: inclined or willing to submit to others : yielding
submissively
adverb
submissiveness
noun
Etymology
from Latin submissus, past participle of submittere "to let down," from sub- "under, below" and mittere "to send, throw" — related to message
Medical Definition
submissive
adjective
sub·mis·sive
səb-ˈmis-iv
: characterized by tendencies to yield to the will or authority of others
bullying usually involves a stronger, more dominant personality coercing a weaker, more submissive personality—S. W. Twemlow et al.
S. W. Twemlow et al.
submissiveness
noun
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