SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS

subordinate

adjective

Lower in rank, importance, or authority.

Compare the alternatives Definition and examples

Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.

Lower in rank or importance

Closest synonyms

secondary junior lower-ranking subsidiary inferior minor

Related words and expressions

These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.

Usage distinction

Subordinate concerns relative position. Inferior may imply poorer quality instead, while dependent emphasizes reliance or control.

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CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT

See subordinate in use

In the final report, decorative details remained subordinate to the main findings.

Dictionary practice example.

An assistant in a subordinate position could still notice a mislabeled crate and explain the mistake to the person supervising the loading.

From Authority Aboard and Ashore.

Compare an alternative with the original word in each passage. Shared meanings do not make every pair interchangeable.

Synonym reference scope and sources

The groups distinguish the senses selected for this study entry. Closest synonyms and broader related expressions have separate labels. The listed sources support lexical selection; not every phrase is a direct quotation from a source.

How the synonym reference was prepared / WordNet 3.0 license

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