Synonyms of subject

subject 1 of 3

noun

ˈsəb-jikt 

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

• topic
• matter
• theme
• question
• motif
• content
• essence
• idea
• motive
• issue
• purpose
• problem
• subject matter
• consideration
• basis
• substance
• core
• fundamental
• bulk
• heart
• count
• point
• body
• burden
• sum
• gist
• mass
• essential
• main
• debate
• crux
• nucleus
• staple
• net
• argument
• talking point
• kernel
• generality
• marrow
• pivot
• purport
• affair
• centerpiece
• bottom
• grist
• pith
• keynote
• quick
• nub
• essentiality
• nubbin

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• aside
• tangent
• excursion
• digression
• parenthesis
• interjection

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• citizen
• national
• freeman
• resident
• inhabitant
• countryman
• native
• nonimmigrant
• compatriot

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• alien
• stranger
• foreigner
• noncitizen
• immigrant
• nonnative

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

• reason
• grounds
• motive
• why
• authority
• cause
• consideration
• account
• wherefore
• impetus
• occasion
• stimulus
• incentive
• inspiration
• antecedent
• instigation

subject

2 of 3

verb

səb-ˈjekt 

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

• dominate
• conquer
• subdue
• overcome
• defeat
• subordinate
• reduce
• subjugate
• enslave
• vanquish
• overpower
• beat
• pacify
• crush
• prevail (over)
• triumph (over)
• mow (down)
• lick
• suppress
• rout
• annihilate
• whip
• smash
• quell
• silence
• put down
• thrash
• quash
• crack down (on)
• trounce
• clobber
• repress
• squelch
• snuff (out)
• smother
• squash
• clamp down (on)
• break
• wallop
• skunk
• drub

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• release
• free
• discharge
• spring
• liberate
• emancipate
• manumit
• enfranchise
• unbind
• unfetter
• unchain
• uncage

subject

3 of 3

adjective

as in dependent

Synonyms & Similar Words

• dependent
• bound
• unfree
• captive
• nonautonomous
• subjugated
• conquered
• fettered
• subordinate
• subdued
• non-self-governing
• enslaved
• subservient
• inferior

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• separate
• independent
• free
• sovereign
• autonomous
• freestanding
• sovran
• released
• freeborn
• self-governing
• redeemed
• delivered
• self-ruling
• self-governed
• liberated
• freed
• emancipated
• manumitted

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

Recent Examples of subject

Noun

That standard was used to suppress the speech of faculty, such as Northwestern professor Laura Kipnis, who in a Kafkaesque turn was the subject of a legal complaint by students under Title IX for writing an op-ed column criticizing the Obama view of Title IX. —The Editors, National Review, 16 Apr. 2025

Courtesy of subject Not gonna lie: that regrowth process was nothing short of horrendous and lengthy. —Liz Krieger, Allure, 15 Apr. 2025

Verb

Hence the mockery to which the brainwashed are frequently subjected. —Nikhil Krishnan, New Yorker, 31 Mar. 2025

Francis, who subjected himself to questioning by the inquiry, was found not to have been provided with any documentation regarding allegations against McCarrick. —Christopher Lamb, CNN Money, 4 Apr. 2025

Adjective

The two programs at issue -- the Teacher Quality Partnership and Supporting Effective Educator Development -- provide more than $600 million in grants for teacher preparation programs, often in subject areas such as math, science and special education, the states have argued. —Arkansas Online, 5 Apr. 2025

While financial institutions have robust technology adoption procedures that should suffice, the leap to quantum computing is a major one that requires proficiency in quantum information science—a subject area with a significant skills shortage. —Scott Buchholz, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2025

Phrases Containing subject

• subject (to)
• subject matter