Word
submissive
Phoneticssub·mis·sive, stress on the second syllable
US/səbˈmɪsɪv/
UK/səbmˈɪsɪv/
Definition
adj. willing to obey someone else without arguing. You use this to describe a person who lets others control them or make all the decisions.
adj. ready to conform to the authority or will of others; meekly obedient. Often used to describe a personality trait or a specific social dynamic.
Examples
“He was very submissive and always did what his boss asked.”
“In some animal groups, a submissive individual will lower its head to show it does not want to fight the leader.”
“The negotiator mistook the diplomat's quiet tone for a submissive attitude, failing to realize that her silence was actually a calculated refusal to engage with his demands.”
Examples
simple
“He was very submissive and always did what his boss asked.”
contextual
“In some animal groups, a submissive individual will lower its head to show it does not want to fight the leader.”
complex
“The negotiator mistook the diplomat's quiet tone for a submissive attitude, failing to realize that her silence was actually a calculated refusal to engage with his demands.”
Usage
Often used predicatively after linking verbs like 'become', 'remain', or 'seem'.
Real-World Examples
“Being highly sociotropic has also been shown to make a person more submissive and exploitable .” Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/submissive