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

Example Sentences

Social media’s entire “tradwife” genre is about professional content creators pretending to be submissive housewives to sell advertising.

From Salon

In reality, this win against a submissive Spurs was simply a step on the road from Anfield's anticipation to the glorious realisation that the prize was theirs.

From BBC

But I don’t think most people are being willfully submissive to tech, only that they seek beauty in the wrong places.

From Salon

It's unlikely that women will encounter tradwife content and decide to quit their jobs to be submissive housewives.

From Salon

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

Related Words

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