submissive - Definition | Dictionary definition of submissive

Definition of submissive

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"

Synonyms:: unassertive
inclined to timidity or lack of self-confidence; obedient
dutifully complying with the commands or instructions of those in authority; humble
marked by meekness or modesty; not arrogant or prideful; subordinate
subject or submissive to authority or the control of another; abject
showing humiliation or submissiveness; bowed, bowing
showing an excessively deferential manner; meek, spiritless
evidencing little spirit or courage; overly submissive or compliant; cringing, groveling, grovelling, wormlike, wormy
totally submissive; dominated, henpecked
harassed by persistent nagging

Antonyms:: domineering
tending to domineer; immodest
having or showing an exaggerated opinion of your importance, ability, etc; authoritarian, dictatorial, overbearing
expecting unquestioning obedience; autocratic, bossy, dominating, high-and-mighty, magisterial, peremptory
offensively self-assured or given to exercising usually unwarranted power; blustery, bullying
noisily domineering; tending to browbeat others; cavalier, high-handed
given to haughty disregard of others; heavy-handed, roughshod
unjustly domineering; oppressive, tyrannical, tyrannous
marked by unjust severity or arbitrary behavior; show more antonyms...

abjectly submissive; characteristic of a slave or servant

"she has become submissive and subservient"

Synonyms:: slavish, subservient; servile
submissive or fawning in attitude or behavior