# submissive

/səbˈmɪsɪv/ (US) · /səbmˈɪsɪv/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/submissive
Updated: 2026-05-07

## Definition

willing to obey someone else without arguing. You use this to describe a person who lets others control them or make all the decisions.

For teachers: 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.

## Usage notes

- Often used predicatively after linking verbs like 'become', 'remain', or 'seem'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.