underling

[uhn-der-ling]

noun

1. a subordinate, especially one of slight importance.

   Synonyms: hireling, lackey, flunky, menial

underling

/ ˈʌndəlɪŋ /

noun

1. a subordinate or lackey

Word History and Origins

Origin of underling¹

1125–75; Middle English. See under-, -ling ¹

Example Sentences

Under the cover of darkness, an underling used satellite imagery to pick his way through vineyards near the prison before tossing a pillowcase over the walls.

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In his statement, he said the comments made to the undercover reporter were "empty words and not a true account of the underling incident".

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County prosecutors had charged that Landa-Rodriguez, while incarcerated in a federal penitentiary for illegally reentering the country, sanctioned the killing of a rival’s underling.

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The president typically has no loyalty to his underlings.

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On Tuesday, he held a press conference to announce relatively minor news that could have been delivered by an underling: He intended to move U.S.

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Related Words

• attendant