What does "underling" mean?

A subordinate, or person of lesser rank or authority.

What is a synonym for "underling"?

Common synonyms include: subordinate, assistant, attendant, cog, commonality, commonalty.

/ˈʌndɚlɪŋ/ noun

noun ·Uncommon ·College level

Noun

1
A subordinate, or person of lesser rank or authority.
"The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, / But in ourselves, that we are underlings."
2
an assistant subject to the authority or control of another wordnet
3
A low, wretched person.

"You're just an underling. Know your place!"

From Middle English underling, from Old English underling. By surface analysis, under + -ling.