as in obedience
a bending to the authority or control of another
an oligarchy requires subordination by the masses to the will of a tiny elite
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Recent Examples of subordination
Now, the government of President Claudia Sheinbaum, who has maintained that the bilateral relationship should be based on cooperation and not subordination, is obliged to treat the issue of migration and drug trafficking with caution.
—
Anna Lagos, WIRED, 24 Jan. 2025
From China’s perspective, this strategy is the country’s best (and only) hope to arrest recent economic malaise and to avoid subordination to the United States.
—Reva Goujon, Foreign Affairs, 27 Dec. 2024
In Gilead, women exist in complete subordination to men, especially the handmaids, a class of women who are still fertile despite an ongoing environmental catastrophe that has decimated birth rates.
—Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 7 Dec. 2024
In the early 1900s, there was a rise in Black Nationalist organizations that refused to cower in the face of KKK violence or submit to societal subordination.
—Kimberly Fain, JSTOR Daily, 5 July 2017
See All Example Sentences for subordination
Anna Lagos, WIRED, 24 Jan. 2025
From China’s perspective, this strategy is the country’s best (and only) hope to arrest recent economic malaise and to avoid subordination to the United States.
—Reva Goujon, Foreign Affairs, 27 Dec. 2024
In Gilead, women exist in complete subordination to men, especially the handmaids, a class of women who are still fertile despite an ongoing environmental catastrophe that has decimated birth rates.
—Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 7 Dec. 2024
In the early 1900s, there was a rise in Black Nationalist organizations that refused to cower in the face of KKK violence or submit to societal subordination.
—Kimberly Fain, JSTOR Daily, 5 July 2017
See All Example Sentences for subordination
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subordination
Noun
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Her two pups are part of the Protection Sport Association, which competitively tests dogs in their obedience and protection skills through tests of their temperament and physical ability.—
Luke Chinman,
PEOPLE,
11 Sep. 2025
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Even if your furry friend has already mastered the obedience basics, try adding some new party tricks to their command repertoire.—
Kelsey Monstrola,
USA Today,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
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But the latest programming move by Disney should not just be seen as cowardly submission to an autocrat’s abuse of authority.—
Dave Smith,
Fortune,
19 Sep. 2025
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In a sport where fighters often define themselves as strikers, grapplers, or submission specialists, Ukah refuses to be boxed in.—
Sindiswa Mabunda,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The Regulation-As-Innovation Opportunity Smart healthcare leaders view the upcoming 2026 REAL Health Providers Act implementation not as a compliance burden, but as a strategic inflection point.—
Tammy Hawes,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
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The Democratic measure would create within the Office of Management and Budget an inspector general who would be tasked with ensuring compliance with federal laws.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
18 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Subordination.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subordination. Accessed 19 Sep. 2025.
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