subordination
Being under authority
Subordination is the act of placing something in a lower rank or position, or the state of being so placed.
In organizational contexts, it describes hierarchical relationships where some answer to others: The military depends on strict subordination to the chain of command.
In grammar, subordination joins clauses so that one depends on another—the subordinate clause cannot stand alone.
The word often carries connotations of submission or reduced importance: Her creative instincts suffered from years of subordination to commercial demands.
Excessive willingness to obey
- subjugationForcing into submission
- servilityExcessive willingness to please
- meeknessGentle, unassertive disposition
- passivityState of non-resistance
subjection · oppression · control · suppression · disempowerment · marginalization · exploitation · coercion
Adhering to requirements
- deferenceYielding to another's judgment
- submissionYielding to another's will
- acquiescenceUnresisting acceptance
- docilityReadiness to submit
conformity · adherence · dutifulness · obedience · respect · yielding · assent · tractability
Signed up formally
- rankPosition in hierarchy
- disciplineTrained self-control or specialty
- ordersInstructions to obey
- sergeantMid-level military rank
private · platoon · battalion · regiment · brigade · division · corps · squad
Position in hierarchy
- stratificationDivision into distinct levels
- casteInherited social division
- echelonsLevels within a hierarchy
- tierHorizontal structural layer
gradation · seniority · precedence · succession · protocol · feudalism · aristocracy · patriarchy
One who directs others
- employeeHired organizational member
- supervisorOne who directs workers
- bossWorkplace superior
- underlingPerson of lower rank
delegation · oversight · accountability · executive · junior · senior · promotion · demotion
Word joining clauses together
- embeddingPlacing within surrounding mass
- syntaxRules for arranging words
- connectiveSomething that links
- subordinatorDependent clause marker
subservience
Excessive willingness to obey
- subjugationForcing into submission
- servilityExcessive willingness to please
- meeknessGentle, unassertive disposition
passivity · subjection · oppression · control · suppression · disempowerment · marginalization · exploitation · coercion · hegemony
compliance
Adhering to requirements
- deferenceYielding to another's judgment
- submissionYielding to another's will
- acquiescenceUnresisting acceptance
docility · conformity · adherence · dutifulness · obedience · respect · yielding · assent · tractability · amenability
enlisted
Signed up formally
- rankPosition in hierarchy
- disciplineTrained self-control or specialty
- ordersInstructions to obey
sergeant · private · platoon · battalion · regiment · brigade · division · corps · squad · duty
rank
Position in hierarchy
- stratificationDivision into distinct levels
- casteInherited social division
- echelonsLevels within a hierarchy
tier · gradation · seniority · precedence · succession · protocol · feudalism · aristocracy · patriarchy · matriarchy
manager
One who directs others
- employeeHired organizational member
- supervisorOne who directs workers
- bossWorkplace superior
underling · delegation · oversight · accountability · executive · junior · senior · promotion · demotion · authority
conjunction
Word joining clauses together
- embeddingPlacing within surrounding mass
- syntaxRules for arranging words
- connectiveSomething that links
- designdesign principles, functionality, emphasis, unity, graphic design
- compositionbalance, symmetry, asymmetry, proportion, layout
- dependencedepend, depend on, dependency, rely, need
- hierarchiestier, tiers, level, levels, rank
- obedienceobedience, compliance, deference, docility, subservience
- Power dynamicsdominance, submission, authority, power, control
subordinationdominance
Superior influence over others
superiority · supremacy · ascendancy · preeminence · command
subordinationinsubordination
Defying workplace authority
disobedience · defiance · rebellion · rebelliousness · noncompliance
subordinationequality
Same status for all
parity · equivalence · egalitarianism · mutuality · coequality
subordinationism, insubordination, subordinating, subordinations