underlings

noun

plural of underling
as in subordinates
one who is of lower rank and typically under the authority of another the real estate tycoon has a whole army of underlings to attend to the details

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of underlings Scarface doesn’t just bark orders at his underlings but browbeats the whimpering Ventriloquist, giving him that warped double personality that made older characters like Two-Face so alluring. — Daniel Dockery, Vulture, 24 Aug. 2026 Rumors of relationships between executives and underlings went around on campus. — Claire Stapleton, New Yorker, 18 July 2026 France’s Annecy International Animation Film Festival gets underway this weekend with Illumination’s Minions & Monsters, the latest movie devoted to the mischievous army of yellow underlings first introduced in 2010 breakout Despicable Me. — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 19 June 2026 But the occupant of the Oval Office doesn’t want his underlings engaging in self-promotion and vindictive lawsuits. — Robert B. Reich, Hartford Courant, 28 Apr. 2026 And all the while underlings scrambled madly for a correct number. — Armando Salguero Outkick, FOXNews.com, 24 Apr. 2026 Even Trump himself—with his garbled speech and incoherent ramblings—makes his underlings seem more credible by comparison. — Sarah Longwell, The Atlantic, 23 Apr. 2026 Historically, film studios have been run by one monolithic figure, calling shots and running expansive teams of middle managers and underlings. — Matt Donnelly, Variety, 16 Apr. 2026 This one regrettable fight between husband and wife has far-reaching implications for the community surrounding a ritzy LA country club, where Josh is the general manager and Ashley and Austin are his underlings. — Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 16 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for underlings
  1. subordinates
  2. minions
  3. henchmen
Noun
  • Many Hindus today identify as Shaivas, Vaishnavas, or Shaktas, sectarian groups that, respectively, worship Shiva, Vishnu, or Shakti as supreme, with all other deities considered as manifestations or subordinates.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The judge found that the three did, in fact, violate the charter, which states that council members may not interfere with appointments or removals in the city manager’s office, or give orders to the city manager’s subordinates.
    — Raisa Habersham, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of subordinates
Noun
  • Just as Wolverine is surrounded, he’s saved by Mystique, who’s shape-shifted herself into one of Trask’s minions.
    — Jordan Moreau, Variety, 13 Aug. 2026
  • One of Danhausen’s minions took out Mysterio with a flipping dive on the outside.
    — Blake Oestriecher, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of minions
Noun
  • One of the senior henchmen of right-wing Christian politics saw this dangerous transformation unfolding from the inside.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 25 Aug. 2026
  • While Sanji and Chopper fight off various henchmen, Luffy battles Wapol and eventually beats him with Sanj’s help.
    — Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of henchmen

Browse Nearby Words

underling
underlings
underlining
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Cite this Entry

“Underlings.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/underlings. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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