You refer to someone as an underling when they are inferior in rank or status to someone else and take orders from them. You use this word to show that you do not respect someone.
[disapproval]
Every underling feared him.
...underlings who do the dirty work.
Synonyms: subordinate, inferior, minion, servant More Synonyms of underling
underling in British English
(ˈʌndəlɪŋ)
noun
a subordinate or lackey
underling in American English
(ˈʌndərlɪŋ)
noun
a person in a subordinate position; inferior: usually contemptuous or disparaging
Word origin
ME < OE: see under- & -ling1
Examples of 'underling' in a sentence
underling
`Surely as an officer, you wouldn't think of delegating to an underling something you wouldn't do yourself?
Maclean, Alistair SAN ANDREAS
He heard Kiesler rap out an answer to an underling 's question in German.
Hinxman, Margaret THE SOUND OF MURDER
I remember kithing a secret deposition made by a man named Sharanth Li Chu who was an underling of Edmond Jaspari.
Zindell, David THE BROKEN GOD
(noun)
Definition
a subordinate
(derogatory)
underlings who do the dirty work
Synonyms
subordinate
Her subordinates respected her.
inferior
He was too proud to conceal his opinions from those he considered his inferiors.
minion
She delegated the job to one of her minions.
servant
She couldn't lift a spoon without a servant.
slave
cohort mainly US)
retainer
the ever-faithful family retainer
menial
nonentity
lackey
I'm not staying as a paid lackey to act as your yes-man.
hireling
flunky
understrapper
Additional synonyms
in the sense of flunky
Definition
a person who performs small unimportant tasks for a powerful or important person in the hope of being rewarded
Synonyms
minion,
assistant,
tool,
slave,
cohort (US),
menial,
hanger-on,
underling (derogatory),
drudge,
yes man,
toady
in the sense of inferior
Definition
a person inferior to another, esp. in rank
He was too proud to conceal his opinions from those he considered his inferiors.
Synonyms
underling (derogatory),
junior,
subordinate,
lesser,
menial,
minion
in the sense of lackey
Definition
a servile follower
I'm not staying as a paid lackey to act as your yes-man.
Synonyms
hanger-on,
fawner,
pawn,
attendant,
tool,
instrument,
parasite,
cohort (US),
valet,
menial,
minion,
footman,
sycophant,
yes-man,
manservant,
toady,
flunky,
brown-noser (taboo, slang),
flatterer,
ass-kisser (US, Canadian, taboo, slang),
varlet (archaic)
Nearby words of
underling
undergrowth
underhand
underline
underling
underlying
undermine
underneath
Synonyms of 'underling'
underling
Explore 'underling' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of menial
Definition
a domestic servant
Synonyms
servant,
domestic,
attendant,
lackey,
labourer,
serf,
underling (derogatory),
drudge,
vassal (archaic),
dogsbody (informal),
flunky,
skivvy (British),
varlet (archaic)
in the sense of minion
Definition
a servile assistant
She delegated the job to one of her minions.
Synonyms
follower,
or woman or person">henchman or woman or person,
underling (derogatory),
lackey,
favourite,
pet,
creature,
darling,
parasite,
cohort (US),
dependant,
hanger-on,
sycophant,
yes man,
toady,
hireling,
flunky,
flatterer,
lickspittle,
bootlicker (informal),
myrmidon
in the sense of retainer
Definition
a servant who has been with a family for a long time
the ever-faithful family retainer
Synonyms
servant,
domestic,
attendant,
valet,
supporter,
dependant,
or woman or person">henchman or woman or person,
footman,
lackey,
vassal,
flunky
in the sense of servant
Definition
a person employed to do household work for another person