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
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Recent Examples of subordinate
Josh Wood, The Courier-Journal, 20 Dec. 2024
The social critique was still in there but subordinate to these rich, comically flawed characters, each getting something like their own book.
—Adam Moss, Vulture, 25 Nov. 2024
Tara Copp and Lolita C. Baldor, Los Angeles Times, 15 Jan. 2025
Some subordinates stole away from family dinners and holiday gatherings to work, while Mr. Zuckerberg weighed in between trips to his homes in the San Francisco Bay Area and the island of Kauai.
—Mike Isaac, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2025
Heather Wishart-Smith, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2024
It can only be attained by subordinating the system, processes, tools, techniques, and frameworks to human values, mindsets, caring, feeling, and culture that firms can inspire energy, enthusiasm, creativity and innovativeness.
—Steve Denning, Forbes, 9 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for subordinate 
Adjective
Trager did not respond to questions from The Courier Journal about whether the mayor had watched videos of the pregnant woman receiving a citation or of Stewart's subordinate using force on the man at the downtown hotel.
—Josh Wood, The Courier-Journal, 20 Dec. 2024
The social critique was still in there but subordinate to these rich, comically flawed characters, each getting something like their own book.
—Adam Moss, Vulture, 25 Nov. 2024
Noun
That internal review, done by Austin’s subordinates, largely absolved anyone of wrongdoing for the secrecy surrounding his hospitalization.
—Tara Copp and Lolita C. Baldor, Los Angeles Times, 15 Jan. 2025
Some subordinates stole away from family dinners and holiday gatherings to work, while Mr. Zuckerberg weighed in between trips to his homes in the San Francisco Bay Area and the island of Kauai.
—Mike Isaac, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2025
Verb
Before him, producers wielded most of the power, relegating writers to subordinate roles.
—Heather Wishart-Smith, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2024
It can only be attained by subordinating the system, processes, tools, techniques, and frameworks to human values, mindsets, caring, feeling, and culture that firms can inspire energy, enthusiasm, creativity and innovativeness.
—Steve Denning, Forbes, 9 Oct. 2024
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
-
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
Verb
-
Parisa keeps the cringe train chugging along by subjecting Grant to a full-on PowerPoint presentation about their future together, including creepy AI pictures of her pregnant.—
Kristen Baldwin,
EW.com,
28 Jan. 2025
-
Aside from arguing the executive order’s constitutionality, the states say the order would subject all the children affected by it to deportation and make many of them stateless.—
Gene Johnson,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
In the policy, a drone is commonly referred to as an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) less than 55 pounds.—
Graham P. Johnson,
Twin Cities,
7 Feb. 2025
-
The regrettable fact is that thanks to Trump, Milley may have less to worry about from Iran’s Revolutionary Guards than from some fanatic who takes the removal of his security detail as an invitation to kill him.—
Steve Chapman,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
For the past year and a half, the story of Tapestry was dominated a series of questions around the company’s $8.5 billion deal to buy Capri Holdings — from how the firm would turn around Michael Kors once the deal closed to whether the deal would close at all.—
Evan Clark,
WWD,
6 Feb. 2025
-
The fashion choice quickly went viral, dominating discussions on platforms such as Instagram and X, formerly Twitter, as social media users fiercely debated the look.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
6 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Her goal is to see her daughter, a junior at Waconia, graduate from high school.—
Graham P. Johnson,
Twin Cities,
6 Feb. 2025
-
Under Reinhart, quarterback Chris Jimerson Jr. won the Star-Telegram Player of the Year as a junior and was named a Max Preps Senior All-American as a senior.—
Charles Baggarly,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
5 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
Harissa, a hot chili pepper paste, is subdued by a zesty orange flavor.—
Claire Hoppe Norgaard,
Better Homes & Gardens,
8 Feb. 2025
-
Swift subdued Beauty brands aren’t making as many appearances at this year’s Super Bowl, despite Taylor Swift likely making another appearance to support her boyfriend, Chiefs player Travis Kelce.—
Jordan Valinsky,
CNN,
7 Feb. 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
Thesaurus Entries Near subordinate
Cite this Entry
“Subordinate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subordinate. Accessed 16 Feb. 2025.
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