subject 1 of 3

1
2
as in citizen
a person who owes allegiance to a government and is protected by it because of the tense situation in that country, British subjects were advised to return home as soon as possible

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3
as in reason
something (as a belief) that serves as the basis for another thing he has no subject to protest this time, but that's never stopped him before

Synonyms & Similar Words

subject

2 of 3

verb

subject

3 of 3

adjective

Synonym Chooser

How is the word subject distinct from other similar nouns?

The words citizen and national are common synonyms of subject. While all three words mean "a person owing allegiance to and entitled to the protection of a sovereign state," subject implies allegiance to a personal sovereign such as a monarch.

the king's subjects

When would citizen be a good substitute for subject?

In some situations, the words citizen and subject are roughly equivalent. However, citizen is preferred for one owing allegiance to a state in which sovereign power is retained by the people and sharing in the political rights of those people.

the rights of a free citizen

When is national a more appropriate choice than subject?

The synonyms national and subject are sometimes interchangeable, but national designates one who may claim the protection of a state and applies especially to one living or traveling outside that state.

American nationals working in the Middle East

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of subject
Noun
These also told of subject Kushite chiefs who supplied the wood from acacia trees used to build vessels to ship blocks of Aswan stone northwards for the pharaoh’s pyramid. Vanessa Taylor, Big Think, 25 Sep. 2025 Observational studies, however, tend to capture a snapshot of mid- to late-life drinking habits, and depend on subject recall, which may not be accurate. Sandee Lamotte, CNN Money, 23 Sep. 2025
Verb
The sisters discussed the subject and offered the same visuals during a live taping of their podcast in February 2024 with guest Tinx. Maggie Kreienberg, PEOPLE, 23 Oct. 2025 Though the pilot wasn't picked up, Spinal Tap endured, acting as the primary subject of the first film's sendup of breathlessly adulatory rock biopics like Martin Scorsese's The Last Waltz. Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
Many employers already subject potential hires to elaborate interview and testing regimes, sometimes requiring them to perform tasks or problem-solve while recruiters watch. Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 30 Sep. 2025 Park Soon-kwan, CEO of the battery maker Aricell, had been charged under the country’s industrial safety law, which subjects senior executives to prison terms of more than one year when found guilty in the event of fatal accidents. Reuters, NBC news, 24 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for subject
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subject
Noun
  • Judging by his big grin, though, the best topic was saved till last when asked to describe Estevao’s display.
    Simon Johnson, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2025
  • Support journalism that digs deeper into topics that matter most to Arkansans.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 23 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Indonesia’s last executions, of a citizen and three foreigners, were carried out in July 2016.
    CNN Money, CNN Money, 22 Oct. 2025
  • After the meeting, Simmons said the fact that the citizens feel the need to create their own version of the commissioners court tells her that they are not being properly served by the people in charge.
    Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The Today with Jenna & Friends co-host credited her sister as the reason for many of her successes, including her role as a television host.
    Ingrid Vasquez, PEOPLE, 24 Oct. 2025
  • The Raptors’ 34-11 advantage in fast-break points was the biggest reason for that.
    Eric Koreen, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Narrowing searches to those with experience running a company or a major business unit means they are confined to a much smaller pool of executives with decades of experience and, because of historic hiring patterns, that talent pool is dominated by White men, Williams said.
    Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 23 Oct. 2025
  • Advertisement Although a senior member of Fatah—the secular nationalist party that dominates the Palestinian Authority—Barghouti has maintained good relations with Hamas, the Islamist militant group that controls Gaza.
    Karl Vick, Time, 23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • So much of the success the Leafs will have this season — for better or worse — is dependent on that shot.
    Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
  • And this model of access, dependent on negotiation and renegotiation and repeated discussions about individual items, is neither sustainable nor capable of delivering aid at the scale that is needed.
    Anna Halford, Time, 25 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • To compound matters, Nuno is the first West Ham head coach to be winless in his first four league games since Manuel Pellegrini in September 2018.
    Roshane Thomas, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
  • Previous studies relied on a process known as polymerase chain reaction (PCR), which amplifies small or degraded fragments of DNA, allowing scientists to analyze genetic material even from old or damaged organic matter.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 24 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Jashanpreet, an Indian national who entered the United States illegally in 2022, has been charged with driving under the influence of drugs, causing bodily injury, and gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, according to San Bernardino County records.
    Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Oct. 2025
  • This year, Yaghi became the first Saudi national to receive the Nobel Prize in chemistry.
    Jason Ma, Fortune, 26 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The phenomenon, known as granular jamming, has long fascinated physicists who study how materials like sand and coffee grounds can switch from flowing freely to becoming rigid under pressure.
    Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 27 Oct. 2025
  • The picturesque grounds tend to steal the show here, though.
    Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 27 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Subject.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subject. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.

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