All the other issues are subordinate to this one.
Source: tatoeba (274659)
Subordinate
/səˈbɔːdɪnət/
Synonyms for "subordinate" (201 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (41)
Noun(11 words)
underlingassistantasstauxiliarybackground featurebondswomandemotedependentdependent clausedependent clause formationdescendent
accessoryadjuvantaideamenableassistantassortattendantauxiliarybelowbeneathboltcategorizeclassifyclientcogcollatecollateralcommoncommonalitycommonalty
Show 5 more words
Adverb(1 words)
Verb(1 words)
Adjective(3 words)
Strong matches (60)
Related words (100)
Noun(18 words)
lowerminionsnonleaderspeonsrelegatesatellitingsecondarysecondary rainbowsmall denominationsstaffersubject someone tosubject tosubmissivesubordinate wordsubservientsubsidiarysuffraganvassals
lower classlower orderslowlymake dependentmassesminionminormodestmyrmidonnext toordinaryoverwhelmpawnpeonpeonizepoor relationrankretainerriddleright hand man
Show 46 more words
right-hand mansatellitescreenscrubsecondsecond fiddlesecond ranksecond stringsecondaryseparateserfservantservilesidesievesiftsimplesizeslavesortsort outstafferstoogesubsubalternsubjectsubjugatesubordinate tosubservientsubsidiarysupplementarytake captivethird rankthird stringthird stringertributaryunderunderlingunderprivilegedunderstrappervassalvassalizevulgaryeomanyes manyes-man
Adjective(7 words)
Determiner(1 words)
most background
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: underling, accessory, adjuvant, aide, amenable.
- Sentence evidence is available for subordinate, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "subordinate".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "subordinate"
Keep "subordinate" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "subordinate" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "subordinate", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "subordinate" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
22 entriesShowing 16 of 22 words.
More specific
11 entriesCollocations
8 entriessubordinate clausesubordinate positionsubordinate relationshipsubordinate rolesubordinate staffsubordinate statussubordinate tosubordinate unit
Inflections
5 entriesDerivations
4 entriesAntonyms
2 entriessimilar
14 entriesTranslations
17 translations across 12 languages.
Bulgarian
1 entries- подчинявам verb (to make subservient)
Catalan
1 entries- subordinar verb (to make subservient)
Czech
1 entries- podřídit verb (to make subservient)
Esperanto
1 entries- subigi verb (to make subservient)
Finnish
1 entries- alistaa verb (to make subservient)
Irish
1 entries- fo-ordaigh verb (to make subservient)
Korean
2 entries- 예속시키다 verb (to make subservient)
- 종속시키다 verb (to make subservient)
Portuguese
4 entries- dominar verb (to make subservient)
- subjugar verb (to make subservient)
- submeter verb (to make subservient)
- subordinar verb (to make subservient)
Russian
1 entries- подчиня́ть verb (to make subservient)
Spanish
1 entries- subordinar verb (to make subservient)
Swedish
1 entries- underordna verb (to make subservient)
Turkish
2 entries- bağımlı kılmak verb (to make subservient)
- tabi kılmak verb (to make subservient)
Sample sentences
13 total sentences available.
I was stabbed in the back by my subordinate.
Source: tatoeba (298296)
He is able to subordinate passion to reason.
Source: tatoeba (304623)
We all live, at any rate for a time, and the majority of us always, in polygamy. Consequently, as each man needs many women, nothing is more just than to let him, nay, make it incumbent upon him to provide for many women. By this means woman will be brought back to her proper and natural place as a subordinate being.
Source: tatoeba (678679)
Showing 4 of 13 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "subordinate"?
Closest matches include underling, accessory, adjuvant, aide, amenable.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "subordinate"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.