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Synonyms

underling

American  
[uhn-der-ling] / ˈʌn dər lɪŋ /

noun

  1. a subordinate, especially one of slight importance.

    Synonyms:
    hireling, lackey, flunky, menial

underling British  
/ ˈʌndəlɪŋ /

noun

  1. a subordinate or lackey

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of underling

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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 29, 2025

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.

From Salon • Sep. 4, 2025

What kind of terrible employer has an underling borrow against his own home to cover up his boss’s sordid lies and extra-marital affairs?

From Slate • Jun. 3, 2024

"The defence has sought to portray Cohen as a spurned underling who was obsessed with Trump and would stop at nothing to exact revenge," Ms Roiphe said.

From BBC • May 15, 2024

MI6 didn’t think Le Fantôme would trust an underling to judge whether they were forgeries.

From "City Spies" by James Ponti

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