as in subordinate
one who is of lower rank and typically under the authority of another
the real estate tycoon has a whole army of underlings to attend to the details
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of underling
The ensemble also includes Cal’s and widower Xavier’s kids; Xavier’s underlings; his boss (Krys Marshall), who was sleeping with Cal; and an influential member of Samantha’s entourage (Sarah Shahi) who, for unknown reasons, seems to believe Xavier is innocent.
—
Judy Berman, TIME, 24 Jan. 2025
Don't bet on Trump paying the underling's fine, and that $1,000 a day could add up to well over $1,000,000 before Trump leaves office.
—Justin Gest, Newsweek, 11 Feb. 2025
This is not an image of himself as Kier Eagan, but of Kier in blackface to appease a useful Black underling.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 31 Jan. 2025
His Cabinet nominees, Wiles told her underlings, according to two sources familiar with the call, were chosen to deliver on that promise.
—Eric Cortellessa, TIME, 20 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for underling
Judy Berman, TIME, 24 Jan. 2025
Don't bet on Trump paying the underling's fine, and that $1,000 a day could add up to well over $1,000,000 before Trump leaves office.
—Justin Gest, Newsweek, 11 Feb. 2025
This is not an image of himself as Kier Eagan, but of Kier in blackface to appease a useful Black underling.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 31 Jan. 2025
His Cabinet nominees, Wiles told her underlings, according to two sources familiar with the call, were chosen to deliver on that promise.
—Eric Cortellessa, TIME, 20 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for underling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for underling
Noun
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More strangely, however, Wynn-Williams claims that Sandberg had a habit of crossing boundaries with her female subordinates.—
Miles Klee,
Rolling Stone,
21 Mar. 2025
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In one incident, the complaint alleges Jong was talking with subordinates about Dodgers baseball legend Fernando Valenzuela’s death from septic shock.—
Ryan Fonseca,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Mar. 2025
Noun
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In Lynch’s festering neo-noir mystery from 1987, Hopper plays a chronic villain perpetually sipping from a tank of amyl nitrate and handing out hits as a way to manipulate his henchmen.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
14 Mar. 2025
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Back in Montana, every trip Jacob and company take to Bozeman and back is inevitably fraught with peril — if not instigated by dastardly rich guy Donald Whitfield (Timothy Dalton) and/or his henchman Banner Creighton (Jerome Flynn), then by the pitiless nature of extreme weather.—
Matt Brennan,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The dancer parts include minions, palace guards, enchanted birds and a hunting party.—
San Diego Union-Tribune,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Mar. 2025
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Two months into Donald Trump’s second term, his Republican attack dogs, including Elon Musk and his minions at DOGE, are still busy chewing into many parts of the federal government.—
John Cassidy,
The New Yorker,
24 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Underling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/underling. Accessed 5 Apr. 2025.
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