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
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
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of subordinate
Steve Inskeep, NPR, 25 June 2025
Columban monasteries remained free of the control of local bishops and were instead directly subordinate to the pope.
—Bernd Roeck
june 16, Literary Hub, 16 June 2025
Alexander Coolidge, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
That claim by President Trump and his subordinates seems at once overblown and beside the point.
—Andrew C. McCarthy, National Review, 27 June 2025
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Time, 2 Aug. 2025
Russia’s foreign policy has become subordinated to three goals: building alliances to support its war effort, sustaining an economy targeted by sanctions, and taking revenge on the West for its support of Ukraine.
—Alexander Gabuev, Foreign Affairs, 17 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for subordinate
Adjective
These institutions provide checks and balances in a way that would almost seem to draw on American traditions of government — with the profound difference that all institutions in Iran are ultimately subordinate to just one power, Khamenei's.
—Steve Inskeep, NPR, 25 June 2025
Columban monasteries remained free of the control of local bishops and were instead directly subordinate to the pope.
—Bernd Roeck
june 16, Literary Hub, 16 June 2025
Noun
The disclosure appears to rule out problems with the company’s accounting, mishandling of day-to-day business or questionable conduct with a subordinate.
—Alexander Coolidge, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
That claim by President Trump and his subordinates seems at once overblown and beside the point.
—Andrew C. McCarthy, National Review, 27 June 2025
Verb
Read More: What Trump’s Win Means for the Economy
This is far from the first time Trump has subordinated statistical integrity to political theater.
—Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Time, 2 Aug. 2025
Russia’s foreign policy has become subordinated to three goals: building alliances to support its war effort, sustaining an economy targeted by sanctions, and taking revenge on the West for its support of Ukraine.
—Alexander Gabuev, Foreign Affairs, 17 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for subordinate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subordinate
Adjective
-
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
-
The story of 2022 (and 2021 to a lesser extent) was energy.—
Nicole Goodkind,
CNN,
31 Jan. 2023
Noun
-
Recast versions of his Romulan underlings also appear on the bridge of his Bird of Prey.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
15 Aug. 2025
-
This difficult position might explain why Putin’s grip over even his own loyal underlings is slipping as more economic officials speak out with warnings over the dire state of the economy—a rarity in Putin’s command and control system.—
Time,
Time,
9 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
In October, an employee filed a complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, alleging JBS intentionally discriminates against Haitian workers by subjecting them to poor working conditions.—
Sam Tabachnik,
Denver Post,
28 Aug. 2025
-
In exchange for sanctions relief, the JCPOA placed strict limits on the scope of Iran’s nuclear activities for at least a decade and subjected those activities to stringent international inspections.—
Vali Nasr,
Foreign Affairs,
19 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
For Broadhead, the issue is less about taste than sequence.—
Lela London,
Forbes.com,
30 Aug. 2025
-
Slightly smaller than the U.S. state of Connecticut with a population that's five times less, Montenegro is often overshadowed by other, more popular Adriatic Sea destinations, such as its northern neighbor Croatia or nearby Greece and Italy.—
Kathleen Wong,
USA Today,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
While summer travel continues to dominate searches, consumers are thinking about transitional pieces like lightweight trench coats (up 106 percent) and silk lingerie (up 99 percent) to be worn as outerwear or as layering pieces.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
29 Aug. 2025
-
The memoir dominated bestseller lists and cultural conversation for much of 2022 and 2023, praised for its balance of dark humor and vulnerability.—
Clare Mulroy,
USA Today,
29 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
The junior, who rushed for career highs of 986 yards and 10 touchdowns in 12 games last season, was fifth in the Big Ten in rushing yards per game in 2024.—
Dave Campbell,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Aug. 2025
-
In addition to Schiele, Capra’s other top targets at wideout will be redshirt junior Nick Stone (Mountain Vista) and redshirt sophomore Pierce Richards in the slot.—
Kyle Newman,
Denver Post,
27 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Chatter in a crowded room, the grind of metal on train tracks and the boisterous wall of sound backstage at a gig were also effectively subdued but not completely obliterated.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
22 Aug. 2025
-
As with every Premier League ground, the effects of the stadiums going all-seater and ticket price rises in the 1990s subdued the atmosphere, but safe standing is now a thing and stadiums are better for it.—
Andy Mitten,
New York Times,
20 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
Lower gas demand amid increasing supply has led to lower pump prices.—
Frank Witsil,
Detroit Free Press,
19 June 2023
Cite this Entry
“Subordinate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subordinate. Accessed 3 Sep. 2025.
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