submissive

[ suhb-mis-iv ]

adjective

1. inclined or ready to submit or yield to the authority of another; unresistingly or humbly obedient:

   submissive servants.

   Synonyms: amenable, pliant, compliant, tractable

   Antonyms: disobedient, rebellious

2. marked by or indicating submission or a yielding to the authority of another:

   a submissive reply.

   Synonyms: subdued, tame, docile, patient, resigned, passive

noun

1. alsocalledcomma Informal, sub. the participant in a BDSM sexual encounter or relationship who is obedient, giving power and control to another participant.

submissive

/ səbˈmɪsɪv /

adjective

1. of, tending towards, or indicating submission, humility, or servility

Derived Forms

• subˈmissiveness, noun
• subˈmissively, adverb

Other Words From

• sub·missive·ly adverb
• sub·missive·ness noun
• nonsub·missive adjective
• nonsub·missive·ly adverb
• nonsub·missive·ness noun
• quasi-sub·missive adjective
• quasi-sub·missive·ly adverb
• unsub·missive adjective
• unsub·missive·ly adverb
• unsub·missive·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of submissive¹

First recorded in 1580–90; submiss + -ive

Example Sentences

“They were not submissive,” Rossellini says of the nuns.

From Los Angeles Times

The character’s influence lies in her ability to observe and to be “totally alert” to everything happening around her during the conclave, but not in a submissive way.

From Los Angeles Times

Making the decision myself, and forcing the issue, was antithetical to his expectation that I continue to be a submissive wife.

From Salon

I was submissive to my husband who’d been deemed the head of our household by biblical Scripture.

From Salon

When a man like Musk walks away from his kids, the right wants to accuse the mother of running him off, usually by not being submissive enough.

From Salon

Related Words

• accommodating
• deferential
• dutiful
• meek
• obedient
• passive