Subservient — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /səb-ˈsər-vē-ənt/ sub·ser·vi·ent

Meaning & Definition of Subservient

Subservient (adjective)

  1. useful in an inferior capacity, subordinate
  2. serving to promote some end
  3. obsequiously submissive, truckling

Subservient (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. very willing to obey someone else

    "She was an equal partner in the marriage and not a subservient wife."

    similar: fawning, kowtowing, obeisant, obsequious, servile, slavish, subordinate, amenable, biddable, compliant, conformable, docile, law-abiding, obedient, submissive, tractable, acquiescent, agreeable, amiable, duteous, dutiful, obliging, placable, passive, resigned, unresistant, soft, surrendering, yielding, decorous, disciplined, mannerly, orderly, constrained, curbed, inhibited, repressed, restrained, controllable, disciplinable, governable, handleable, manageable, tame, teachable, trainable, gentle, meek, mild
    opposite: balky, contrary, contumacious, defiant, disobedient, froward, incompliant, insubordinate, intractable, noncompliant, obstreperous, rebel, rebellious, recalcitrant, refractory, restive, unamenable, ungovernable, unruly, untoward, wayward, willful, insurgent, mutinous, dogged, hardheaded, headstrong, mulish, obdurate, obstinate, peevish, pigheaded, self-willed, stubborn, unyielding, uncontrollable, unmanageable, wild, perverse, resistant, bad, disorderly, errant, misbehaving, mischievous, naughty, ill-bred, undisciplined, dissident, nonconformist, disrespectful, ill-mannered, impolite, impudent, insolent, rude

  2. having a less important role, job, or place as something else

    "The employees used to build things by hand but now were subservient to automated equipment that handled much of production."

    similar: secondary, subordinate, subsidiary, ancillary, inferior, accessorial, accessory, appurtenant, auxiliary, marginal, peripheral, supplemental, supplementary, backup, makeshift, substitute, added, additional, another, further, complementary, contributory, adjuvant, assistant, assisting, helping, supportive, tributary
    opposite: all-important, essential, imperative, indispensable, integral, necessary, needed, needful, required, requisite, vital, basic, fundamental, primary, prime, chief, main, principal

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Subservient

The most common words with a similar meaning to Subservient:

fawning, kowtowing, obeisant, obsequious, servile, slavish, subordinate, amenable, biddable, compliant, conformable, docile, law-abiding, obedient, submissive, tractable, acquiescent, agreeable, amiable, duteous, dutiful, obliging, placable, passive, resigned, unresistant, soft, surrendering, yielding, decorous, disciplined, mannerly, orderly, constrained, curbed, inhibited, repressed, restrained, controllable, disciplinable

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Subservient

Words with the opposite meaning of Subservient:

balky, contrary, contumacious, defiant, disobedient, froward, incompliant, insubordinate, intractable, noncompliant, obstreperous, rebel, rebellious, recalcitrant, refractory, restive, unamenable, ungovernable, unruly, untoward, wayward, willful, insurgent, mutinous, dogged, hardheaded, headstrong, mulish, obdurate, obstinate

Word Forms of Subservient

Derived words: subserviently (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Subservient

Latin subservient-, subserviens, present participle of subservire see subserve

First known use: circa 1626

Frequently Asked Questions about Subservient

What does "Subservient" mean?

"Subservient" means useful in an inferior capacity, subordinate. As an adjective, it is defined as: useful in an inferior capacity, subordinate. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Subservient"?

Other words for "Subservient" include fawning, kowtowing, obeisant, obsequious, servile, slavish, subordinate and amenable. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Subservient" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Subservient"?

There are 76 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Subservient". Common alternatives include fawning, kowtowing, obeisant, obsequious, servile, slavish, subordinate, amenable, biddable and compliant.

What is the opposite of "Subservient"?

Antonyms of "Subservient" include balky, contrary, contumacious, defiant, disobedient, froward, incompliant and insubordinate.

How do you use "Subservient" in a sentence?

Examples of "Subservient" in a sentence: "She was an equal partner in the marriage and not a subservient wife."; "The employees used to build things by hand but now were subservient to automated equipment that handled much of production.".

Is "Subservient" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Subservient" is an adjective.

How do you pronounce "Subservient"?

"Subservient" is pronounced /səb-ˈsər-vē-ənt/ and divided into syllables as sub·ser·vi·ent.

What is the origin of the word "Subservient"?

"Subservient" comes from Latin subservient-, subserviens, present participle of subservire see subserve. First known use: circa 1626.