as in obedient
readily giving in to the command or authority of another
it's not in her nature to be submissive
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Recent Examples of submissive
However, these works — all written by men — portrayed Veronika as a fragile, submissive woman, passively awaiting her fate.
—
Leo Barraclough, Variety, 14 Feb. 2025
This dynamic inadvertently fosters a dominant/submissive power play, providing Romy with an unexpected outlet to explore and indulge her kinks.
—Robert Lang, Deadline, 7 Jan. 2025
Cowed by DeSantis, weak and submissive lawmakers unquestioningly approved his culture-war agenda.
—Steve Bousquet, Sun Sentinel, 1 Feb. 2025
The issue then was DeSantis’ marginalizing of Black voting strength in North Florida, forcing a submissive Legislature to swallow his map of congressional districts — an issue that’s the Legislature’s prerogative.
—Steve Bousquet, Sun Sentinel, 1 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for submissive
Leo Barraclough, Variety, 14 Feb. 2025
This dynamic inadvertently fosters a dominant/submissive power play, providing Romy with an unexpected outlet to explore and indulge her kinks.
—Robert Lang, Deadline, 7 Jan. 2025
Cowed by DeSantis, weak and submissive lawmakers unquestioningly approved his culture-war agenda.
—Steve Bousquet, Sun Sentinel, 1 Feb. 2025
The issue then was DeSantis’ marginalizing of Black voting strength in North Florida, forcing a submissive Legislature to swallow his map of congressional districts — an issue that’s the Legislature’s prerogative.
—Steve Bousquet, Sun Sentinel, 1 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for submissive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for submissive
obedient
Adjective
-
They’re done being obedient to an archaic and broken system.—
Devon Ivie,
Vulture,
1 Aug. 2024
-
According to the new framing, Russia’s real fight is against the mighty United States, which wants to destroy it, while Ukraine—just like the European Union and NATO—is merely an obedient U.S. satellite.—
Andrei Kolesnikov,
Foreign Affairs,
25 May 2023
Cite this Entry
“Submissive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/submissive. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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