Subordinate

medium

sub-OR-din-it

adjective

Definition

Lower in rank or position; of less importance

Examples

The manager delegated the task to a subordinate.
These concerns are subordinate to the main issue.

Synonyms

inferiorsecondaryancillarysubservient

Antonyms

superiordominantparamountpreeminent

Categories

GRE Tip

Subordinate is a medium-difficulty GRE word. On the GRE, you might see it paired with synonyms like "inferior" or "secondary" in Sentence Equivalence questions. Look for contrast clues (however, despite, although) that signal the opposite meaning. Words like "superior".

Related GRE Words

Master subordinate and 800+ GRE words

Learn through stories, practice with real GRE questions, and never forget with spaced repetition.