Thesaurus.com
Dictionary.com
Showing results for subservient. Search instead for ostserbien.
Definitions

subservient

[suhb-sur-vee-uhnt] / səbˈsɜr vi ənt /
ADJECTIVE
extremely compliant
Synonyms
STRONGEST
deferential submissive
STRONG
compliant
WEAK
a slave to abject acquiescent at one's beck and call at one's mercy bootlicking cowering cringing docile fawning ignoble in one's clutches in one's pocket in one's power mean menial obeisant obsequious resigned servile slavish subject sycophantic under one's thumb
Antonyms
STRONGEST
disobedient
WEAK
controlling domineering unhelpful unnecessary useless
ADJECTIVE
secondary, useful
Synonyms
STRONGEST
inferior
WEAK
accessory adjuvant ancillary appurtenant auxiliary bush-league collateral conducive contributory helpful instrumental minor serviceable subordinate subsidiary supplemental supplementary
Antonyms
WEAK
controlling domineering unhelpful unnecessary useless

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"Like Musharraf, he has a subservient prime minister and the authority to reshape the army's structure," he said.

From Barron's • Nov. 14, 2025

When Harris acted the way that vice presidents normally do — subservient, self-effacing, careful never to poach the spotlight from the chief executive — it was seen as a failing.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 12, 2025

"But he certainly does not want to come across as subservient."

From BBC • May 2, 2025

Here is a legend who spent her life subservient to her art, unable to conjure the miracles that defined her existence.

From Salon • Sep. 28, 2024

This wasn’t like the small group of subservient workers we’d known at the Academy or the doublefile inmates from the roomier halls of Coxsackie.

From "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing" by Ted Conover

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.