submissive
adjective
sub·mis·sive
səb-ˈmi-siv 
: submitting to others
submissive employees
submissively
adverb
submissiveness
noun
Synonyms
Examples of submissive in a Sentence
it's not in her nature to be submissive
Recent Examples on the Web
The issue then was DeSantis’ marginalizing of Black voting strength in North Florida, forcing a submissive Legislature to swallow his map of congressional districts — an issue that’s the Legislature’s prerogative.
—
Steve Bousquet, Sun Sentinel, 1 Feb. 2025
What’s more, the deal would very likely provoke a political and military crisis in Ukraine, which Russia could exploit to finally achieve its objective of turning the country into a submissive dominion.
—Elie Tenenbaum, Foreign Affairs, 3 Dec. 2024
All delve into the complexities of dominant/submissive relationships where individuals explore and negotiate power dynamics in a consensual and safe manner.
—Robert Lang, Deadline, 7 Jan. 2025
In 2018, the author Addison Cain filed a takedown notice against the author Zoey Ellis, accusing her of ripping off Cain’s lupine society of aggressive Alphas and submissive Omegas.
—Katy Waldman, The New Yorker, 6 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for submissive 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Steve Bousquet, Sun Sentinel, 1 Feb. 2025
What’s more, the deal would very likely provoke a political and military crisis in Ukraine, which Russia could exploit to finally achieve its objective of turning the country into a submissive dominion.
—Elie Tenenbaum, Foreign Affairs, 3 Dec. 2024
All delve into the complexities of dominant/submissive relationships where individuals explore and negotiate power dynamics in a consensual and safe manner.
—Robert Lang, Deadline, 7 Jan. 2025
In 2018, the author Addison Cain filed a takedown notice against the author Zoey Ellis, accusing her of ripping off Cain’s lupine society of aggressive Alphas and submissive Omegas.
—Katy Waldman, The New Yorker, 6 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for submissive
Dictionary Entries Near submissive
Cite this Entry
“Submissive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/submissive. Accessed 10 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
submissive
adjective
sub·mis·sive
səb-ˈmis-iv
: inclined or willing to submit to others : yielding
submissively
adverb
submissiveness
noun
Etymology
from Latin submissus, past participle of submittere "to let down," from sub- "under, below" and mittere "to send, throw" — related to message
Medical Definition
submissive
adjective
sub·mis·sive
səb-ˈmis-iv
: characterized by tendencies to yield to the will or authority of others
bullying usually involves a stronger, more dominant personality coercing a weaker, more submissive personality—S. W. Twemlow et al.
S. W. Twemlow et al.
submissiveness
noun
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share