Submissive
[səb'mɪsɪv]
Definition
(adj.) inclined or willing to submit to orders or wishes of others or showing such inclination; 'submissive servants'; 'a submissive reply'; 'replacing troublemakers with more submissive people' .
Edited by Angus--From WordNet
Definition
(a.) Inclined or ready to submit; acknowledging one's inferiority; yielding; obedient; humble.
(a.) Showing a readiness to submit; expressing submission; as, a submissive demeanor.
Editor: Milton
Synonyms and Synonymous
a. [1]. Yielding, tractable, pliant, docile.[2]. Obedient, resigned, uncomplaining, unrepining, patient, long-suffering.[3]. Humble, meek, lowly, profound.
Editor: Louise
Synonyms and Antonyms
SYN:Obedient, compliant, yielding, obsequious, humble, docile, modest, passive,acquiescent, subservient
ANT:Disobedient, incompliant, unyielding, unobsequious, recalcitrant, refractory,prov, {[d]?}, resistent, renitent, malcontent, recusant
Typed by Hiram
Examples
- The voice of the submissive man who had spoken, was flat and tame in its extreme submission. Charles Dickens. A Tale of Two Cities.
- Bitzer,' said Mr. Gradgrind, broken down, and miserably submissive to him, 'have you a heart? Charles Dickens. Hard Times.
- God won't be so cruel as to take you from me, cried poor Jo rebelliously, for her spirit was far less piously submissive than Beth's. Louisa May Alcott. Little Women.
- She ran off a few steps, like a blown leaf along the ground, then crouched unobtrusively, in submissive, wild patience. D. H. Lawrence. Women in Love .
- Don't break out, Lammle,' urged Fledgeby, in a submissive tone, 'because there's no occasion. Charles Dickens. Our Mutual Friend.
- Tom stood perfectly submissive; and yet Legree could not hide from himself that his power over his bond thrall was somehow gone. Harriet Beecher Stowe. Uncle Tom's Cabin.
- By these attentions, that veteran rake, Rawdon Crawley, found himself converted into a very happy and submissive married man. William Makepeace Thackeray. Vanity Fair.
- Well, I took him in hand, and in one fortnight I had him tamed down as submissive and tractable as heart could desire. Harriet Beecher Stowe. Uncle Tom's Cabin.
- You have been submissive to our rule heretofore; but it looks now as if you did not intend to continue so, and we will remain in the Union no longer. Ulysses S. Grant. Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant.
- Instead of speaking, I smiled; and not a very complacent or submissive smile either. Charlotte Bronte. Jane Eyre.
- And Laurie sat down with a submissive expression delightful to behold. Louisa May Alcott. Little Women.
- Mr Boffin's air was crestfallen and submissive. Charles Dickens. Our Mutual Friend.
- The submissive Tom complied, attended by a crowd. Charles Dickens. Our Mutual Friend.
- He had my children;--whenever I resisted his will anywhere, he would talk about selling them, and he made me as submissive as he desired. Harriet Beecher Stowe. Uncle Tom's Cabin.
- Don't go away, Miss Hexam,' he said in a submissive manner, speaking thickly and with difficulty. Charles Dickens. Our Mutual Friend.
Editor: Sasha