submissive — ready to conform to the authority or will of others; meekly obedient or passive
Part of speech: ADJECTIVE
Definition: ready to conform to the authority or will of others; meekly obedient or passive
Pronunciation (IPA): /səbˈmɪsɪv/
Example Sentences
- The new intern was so submissive that he agreed to fetch coffee for everyone, including the janitor.
- She adopted a submissive posture during the negotiation to avoid conflict.
- The cat's submissive purring suddenly turned into aggressive hissing when it saw the vacuum cleaner.
submissive
ADJECTIVE[/səbˈmɪsɪv/]
ready to conform to the authority or will of others; meekly obedient or passive
While the wild wolf growled aggressively, the tamed dog rolled onto its back in a completely submissive posture.
SUB(under) + MISS(send) + IVE(state) — being sent(MISS) completely under(SUB) the emperor's rule, the defeated king entered a submissive state(IVE) and bowed.
At first, the merchant was completely dismissive, but when the royal inspector showed his badge, the merchant instantly became submissive.
Got the picture? Now let's practice.
🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From Latin 'submissus', the past participle of 'submittere' meaning 'to place under' or 'to yield'. The word combines the prefix 'sub-' (under) with 'mittere' (to send or place), reflecting the idea of yielding to authority.
Breakdown
sub- (under) + miss (send/place, from Latin mittere) + -ive (adjective suffix indicating a quality or tendency) = submissive
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The new intern was so submissive that he agreed to fetch coffee for everyone, including the janitor.”
“She adopted a submissive posture during the negotiation to avoid conflict.”
“The cat's submissive purring suddenly turned into aggressive hissing when it saw the vacuum cleaner.”
“His submissive nature made him unsuitable for leadership positions.”
📚Related Words
Want to master 27,000+ words?
Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.