as in subordinate
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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of underling
The ensemble also includes Cal’s and widower Xavier’s kids; Xavier’s underlings; his boss (Krys Marshall), who was sleeping with Cal; and an influential member of Samantha’s entourage (Sarah Shahi) who, for unknown reasons, seems to believe Xavier is innocent.
—
Judy Berman, TIME, 24 Jan. 2025
Don't bet on Trump paying the underling's fine, and that $1,000 a day could add up to well over $1,000,000 before Trump leaves office.
—Justin Gest, Newsweek, 11 Feb. 2025
This is not an image of himself as Kier Eagan, but of Kier in blackface to appease a useful Black underling.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 31 Jan. 2025
His Cabinet nominees, Wiles told her underlings, according to two sources familiar with the call, were chosen to deliver on that promise.
—Eric Cortellessa, TIME, 20 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for underling
Judy Berman, TIME, 24 Jan. 2025
Don't bet on Trump paying the underling's fine, and that $1,000 a day could add up to well over $1,000,000 before Trump leaves office.
—Justin Gest, Newsweek, 11 Feb. 2025
This is not an image of himself as Kier Eagan, but of Kier in blackface to appease a useful Black underling.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 31 Jan. 2025
His Cabinet nominees, Wiles told her underlings, according to two sources familiar with the call, were chosen to deliver on that promise.
—Eric Cortellessa, TIME, 20 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for underling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for underling
Noun
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The move backfired: the bank’s board of governors, on which China remains an observer, removed Claver-Carone after allegations of improper behavior involving a subordinate.—
MATIAS SPEKTOR,
Foreign Affairs,
1 Apr. 2025
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The grocer disclosed what McMullen didn’t do: The company said McMullen's conduct didn't affect the company’s accounting or involve mishandling of day-to-day business or involve questionable conduct with a subordinate.—
Alexander Coolidge,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2025
Noun
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His other performances included as Robert De Niro’s nasty henchman in Michael Mann’s Heat (1995); as Marlon Brando’s insane assistant in John Frankenheimer’s The Island of Dr. Moreau (1996) and as the suave crook Simon Templar in Phillip Noyce’s The Saint (1997).—
Etan Vlessing,
HollywoodReporter,
2 Apr. 2025
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The not-so-grand finale of Reacher’s third season opens with a gun battle that leaves an entire ATF Special Response Team dead, along with a commensurate number of henchmen that Quinn flew in from somewhere.—
Chris Klimek,
Vulture,
27 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Musk and his hacker minions have blown into departments, demanding access to highly sensitive data in pursuit of finding waste, fraud, and abuse—often making cuts and promoting the reductions before fully understanding what was going on.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
2 Apr. 2025
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Decisions made today by Trump and his minions will affect our children and our children’s children for years to come.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
19 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Underling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/underling. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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