Word.ws English Dictionary

Synonyms of subordinate

11 similar words · 12 opposite words

Another word for subordinate is subaltern. Other synonyms of subordinate are petty and dependent. The opposite of subordinate is superior.

Synonyms and similar words for subordinate

adjectivePlaced in a lower class, rank, or position.

  • lesser
  • subalternOf a lower rank or position; inferior or secondary; especially (military) ranking as a junior officer, below the rank...
  • pettySecondary in importance or rank; minor, subordinate.

adjectiveDependent on and either modifying or complementing the main clause.

  • dependentUsed after a particle (with one or two exceptions), such as those which express questions, subordinate clauses, and...

nounOne who is subordinate.

  • inferiorA person of lower rank, stature, or ability to another.
  • junior
  • reportAn employee whose position in a corporate hierarchy is below that of a particular manager.
  • underlingA subordinate, or person of lesser rank or authority.
  • understrapper

verbTo treat (someone) as of less value or importance.

Opposite of subordinate

adjectivePlaced in a lower class, rank, or position.

adjectiveSubmissive or inferior to, or controlled by authority.

adjectiveDependent on and either modifying or complementing the main clause.

nounOne who is subordinate.

nounA hyponym.

  • hypernymA superordinate word or phrase; a term whose referents form a set which includes as a subset the referents of a...
  • hyperonymHypernym; superordinate term.

Meaning of subordinate

  1. adjective Placed in a lower class, rank, or position.
  2. adjective Submissive or inferior to, or controlled by authority.
  3. adjective Dependent on and either modifying or complementing the main clause.

Full definition of subordinate

subordinate in other languages

Questions about synonyms of subordinate

What is another word for subordinate?
Subordinate has 11 synonyms on Word.ws, such as subaltern, petty and dependent.
What is the opposite of subordinate?
The opposite of subordinate is superior.
What does subordinate mean?
Subordinate means placed in a lower class, rank, or position.

Source and license

Adapted from Wiktionary: subordinate (page history and authors) and the entries of the words listed. Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws grouped the synonyms and antonyms by meaning and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.

Last updated:

Cite this page: “Synonyms of subordinate.” Word.ws, https://word.ws/synonyms/subordinate. Based on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.