SUBSERVIENT: Synonyms and Related Words. What is Another Word for SUBSERVIENT?

Need another word that means the same as “subservient”? Find 36 synonyms and 30 related words for “subservient” in this overview.

The synonyms of “Subservient” are: slavish, submissive, implemental, instrumental, deferential, acquiescent, compliant, accommodating, obedient, dutiful, duteous, biddable, yielding, meek, docile, ductile, pliant, passive, unassertive, spiritless, subdued, humble, timid, mild, lamblike, subordinate, secondary, subsidiary, peripheral, marginal, ancillary, auxiliary, supplementary, inferior, immaterial, supportive

Subservient as an Adjective

Definitions of "Subservient" as an adjective

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “subservient” as an adjective can have the following definitions:

• Less important; subordinate.
• Compliant and obedient to authority.
• Serving as a means to an end.
• Serving or acting as a means or aid.
• Abjectly submissive; characteristic of a slave or servant- S.H.Adams.
• Abjectly submissive; characteristic of a slave or servant.
• Compliant and obedient to authority-G. B. Shaw.
• Prepared to obey others unquestioningly.

Synonyms of "Subservient" as an adjective (36 Words)

accommodating	Willing to fit in with someone’s wishes or needs. Made a special effort to be accommodating.
acquiescent	Willing to carry out the orders or wishes of another without protest. Too acquiescent to challenge authority.
ancillary	In addition to something else, but not as important. Ancillary staff.
auxiliary	Functioning in a supporting capacity. The main library and its auxiliary branches.
biddable	Meekly ready to accept and follow instructions. A biddable sweet natured child.
compliant	Having the property of compliance. A compliant labour force.
deferential	Showing deference. People were always deferential to him.
docile	Willing to be taught or led or supervised or directed. Docile pupils eager for instruction.
ductile	Easily influenced. Ductile copper.
duteous	Willingly obedient out of a sense of duty and respect. Patient Griselda was a chaste and duteous wife.
dutiful	Willingly obedient out of a sense of duty and respect. A dutiful child.
humble	Of low birth or station (`base’ is archaic in this sense. My humble apologies.
immaterial	Without material form or substance. The price was immaterial.
implemental	Serving or acting as a means or aid.
inferior	Of low or inferior quality. Schooling in inner city areas was inferior to that in the rest of the country.
instrumental	Relating to an implement or measuring device. The Society was instrumental in bringing about legislation.
lamblike	Like a lamb in meekness and gentleness.
marginal	At or constituting a border or edge. A marginal victory.
meek	Very docile. She looked meek but had the heart of a lion.
mild	Humble in spirit or manner suggesting retiring mildness or even cowed submissiveness. Mild criticism.
obedient	Complying or willing to comply with an order or request; submissive to another’s authority. Children are taught to be obedient to their parents.
passive	(of radar or a satellite) receiving or reflecting radiation from a transmitter or target rather than generating its own signal. Much benevolence of the passive order may be traced to a disinclination to inflict pain upon oneself.
peripheral	(of a device) able to be attached to and used with a computer, though not an integral part of it. She will see their problems as peripheral to her own.
pliant	Capable of being influenced or formed. Pliant molten glass.
secondary	Having a reversible chemical reaction and therefore able to store energy. A secondary issue.
slavish	Servile or submissive. A slavish adherence to protocol.
spiritless	Evidencing little spirit or courage; overly submissive or compliant. Ruth and I played a spiritless game of Scrabble.
subdued	Lacking in light; not bright or harsh. I felt strangely subdued as I drove home.
submissive	Abjectly submissive characteristic of a slave or servant S H Adams. Replacing troublemakers with more submissive people.
subordinate	Lower in rank or position. His subordinate officers.
subsidiary	Functioning in a supporting capacity. Many argue that the cause of animal rights is subsidiary to that of protecting the environment.
supplementary	Completing or enhancing something. The development of databases supplementary to existing ones.
supportive	Providing encouragement or emotional help. The staff are extremely supportive of each other.
timid	Showing fear and lack of confidence. Problems that call for bold not timid responses.
unassertive	(of a person) not having or showing a confident and forceful personality. A shy unassertive person.
yielding	Inclined to yield to argument or influence or control. Too yielding to make a stand against any encroachments.

Usage Examples of "Subservient" as an adjective

• She was subservient to her parents.
• He expected her career to become subservient to his.
• The whole narration is subservient to the moral plan of exemplifying twelve virtues in twelve knights.
• Editors and journalists who express opinions in print that are opposed to the interests of the rich are dismissed and replaced by subservient ones.
• She has become submissive and subservient.

Associations of "Subservient" (30 Words)

acquiescent	Willing to carry out the orders or wishes of another without protest. Too acquiescent to challenge authority.
amenable	Disposed or willing to conform. Someone amenable to the instruction of others.
bowed	Have legs that curve outward at the knees.
compliance	The state or fact of according with or meeting rules or standards. The appalling compliance with government views shown by the commission.
compliant	Having the property of compliance. The conversion of the gel to a much less compliant rigid glass.
docile	Willing to be taught or led or supervised or directed. She s a black Labrador gentle and docile.
dutiful	Willingly obedient out of a sense of duty and respect. A dutiful child.
enjoin	Give instructions to or direct somebody to do something with authority. The charitable deeds enjoined on him by religion.
fawning	Attempting to win favor from influential people by flattery. Fawning adoration.
flattery	Excessive or insincere praise. She allowed no hint of flattery to enter her voice.
follow	Accept and follow the leadership or command or guidance of. Those who seek to follow Jesus Christ.
groveling	Totally submissive.
loyalty	Feelings of allegiance. His extreme loyalty to the Crown.
manageable	Capable of existing or taking place or proving true; possible to do. Her long hair was black wavy and manageable.
obedience	The act of obeying; dutiful or submissive behavior with respect to another person. Obedience to moral standards.
obedient	Dutifully complying with the commands or instructions of those in authority. Children are taught to be obedient to their parents.
obeisance	Bending the head or body or knee as a sign of reverence or submission or shame or greeting. She made a deep obeisance.
obey	Behave in accordance with (a general principle, natural law, etc. I always obey my father.
obsequious	Obedient or attentive to an excessive or servile degree. They were served by obsequious waiters.
servant	A devoted and helpful follower or supporter. He was a great servant of the Labour Party.
servile	Of or characteristic of a slave or slaves. The servile wars of Sicily.
slavish	Blindly imitative. A slavish adherence to protocol.
submission	Humility; meekness. The union was brought into submission.
submissive	Abjectly submissive characteristic of a slave or servant. Submissive servants.
subservience	Willingness to obey others unquestioningly. He demonstrated his complete subservience to his masters.
succumb	Fail to resist pressure, temptation, or some other negative force. We cannot merely give up and succumb to despair.
sycophantic	Attempting to win favor from influential people by flattery. A sycophantic interview.
toady	Act in an obsequious way. She imagined him toadying to his rich clients.
tractability	The trait of being easily persuaded.
tractable	Easily managed (controlled or taught or molded. Trying to make the mathematics tractable.