subservient

Universal Words adjective 1 ~ (to sb/sth) (disapproving) too willing to obey other people: The press was accused of being subservient to the government. * She did not wish to leave him, but she could not accept her subservient role. 2 ~ (to sth) (formal) less important than sth else: The needs of individuals were subservient to those of the group as a whole. * Every consideration was subservient to the overriding need to cut costs. subservience noun [U]: his subservience to his brother