as in obedient
readily giving in to the command or authority of another
it's not in her nature to be submissive
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Recent Examples of submissive
Earlier this year, my colleague and bud Kelefa Sanneh suggested that music critics, as a lot, have gone soft—becoming submissive, overly agreeable, and, in some cases, nearly servile.
—
Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 1 Dec. 2025
Deborah Gilmour Smyth leads the Backyard cast as Gladys with an incredible, tour de force performance that begins with joy, laughter and vivaciousness and gradually, over the course of two hours, moves toward frightened, childlike and submissive.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Nov. 2025
Even literary heroes had been growing more submissive, Whyte claimed.
—David Merritt Johns, The Atlantic, 2 Nov. 2025
Additionally, religious leaders believed that the long toes prevented people from kneeling in a respectful, submissive manner and so restricted the ability to properly pray.
—Michael Watson, The Conversation, 20 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for submissive
Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 1 Dec. 2025
Deborah Gilmour Smyth leads the Backyard cast as Gladys with an incredible, tour de force performance that begins with joy, laughter and vivaciousness and gradually, over the course of two hours, moves toward frightened, childlike and submissive.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Nov. 2025
Even literary heroes had been growing more submissive, Whyte claimed.
—David Merritt Johns, The Atlantic, 2 Nov. 2025
Additionally, religious leaders believed that the long toes prevented people from kneeling in a respectful, submissive manner and so restricted the ability to properly pray.
—Michael Watson, The Conversation, 20 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for submissive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for submissive
obedient
Adjective
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The audience would do well to stay attuned to this goal — and how obedient Nat is willing to be.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Feb. 2026
-
The Intelligence Age doesn’t require obedient workers.—
Michael Ashley,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Submissive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/submissive. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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