submissive

American  

[suhb-mis-iv] / səbˈmɪs ɪv /

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

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noun

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

submissive British  

/ səbˈmɪsɪv /

adjective

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

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Other Word Forms

• nonsubmissive adjective
• nonsubmissively adverb
• nonsubmissiveness noun
• quasi-submissive adjective
• quasi-submissively adverb
• submissively adverb
• submissiveness noun
• unsubmissive adjective
• unsubmissively adverb
• unsubmissiveness noun

Etymology

Origin of submissive

First recorded in 1580–90; submiss + -ive

Explanation

When animals live in packs, one animal is usually the dominant leader, while the others fall into more submissive roles. To be submissive is to obey or yield to someone else. When you are submissive, you submit to someone else's will, which literally, you put your own desires lower than theirs. You can see this in the Latin root of submit, submittere, which is formed by sub- "under" + mittere "send, put."

Example Sentences

Its subtitle, about awakening and survival, underlines Mrie’s trajectory from submissive daughter to political actor and skilled observer.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 24, 2026

Judges in places like Massachusetts were customarily paid by appropriation of the colonial legislature, which could withhold or delay payment to judges thought too submissive to British interests.

From Slate • Feb. 26, 2025

The eye-popping sum had sparked criticism and raised concerns that the board of Tesla was too submissive and close to Mr Musk.

From BBC • Jun. 14, 2024

People who apologize unnecessarily can be viewed as weak or submissive; even worse, they may be dismissed as manipulative or insincere.

From Salon • Nov. 29, 2023

Something about the way he’s standing—it’s almost submissive, like a dog with its tail between its legs.

From "Boy21" by Matthew Quick

Related Words

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