subject 1 of 3

Definition of subjectnext
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

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

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
That was my way of talking to people in my discipline and in my subject area. Meredith Wilshere, PEOPLE, 19 Apr. 2026 The study of exotic subjects – psychology, astrology, the occult – along with philosophical questions about the meaning of life will intrigue you. Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 18 Apr. 2026
Verb
Such a model would probably be a good edition to a home or office, so buyers can show off their wheels without subjecting viewers to a garage. Erik Shilling, Robb Report, 10 Apr. 2026 The researchers subjected amputated tissues from tadpoles and embryonic mice to various laboratory tests, explains molecular biologist Georgios Tsissios, the study’s lead author. Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
The letter, which CNBC obtained before it was publicly released, asked Warsh pointed, detailed questions about 10 different subject areas to be answered for his confirmation hearing at the Senate Banking Committee, where Warren is the ranking Democrat. Emily Wilkins,dan Mangan, CNBC, 26 Mar. 2026 The scheme was based on the laws of quantum physics — a subject Brassard, a computer scientist, knew nothing about. Ben Brubaker, Quanta Magazine, 18 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for subject
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subject
Noun
  • The topic sounds academic because lunar travel is still extraordinarily expensive.
    Antony Davies, Boston Herald, 19 Apr. 2026
  • Staying on topic about the Clintons’ early days in the White House, Hillary described the jarring transition from Arkansas to presidential life.
    Antonio Ferme, Variety, 19 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The activists, all of whom were Kazakh nationals, protested near the border with China in November, burning Chinese flags and portraits of Chinese leader Xi Jinping and calling for the release of a Kazakh citizen detained in Xinjiang last year.
    ABC News, ABC News, 16 Apr. 2026
  • City leaders, community organizations, the NAACP, and private citizens should come together immediately to ensure that a permanent, dignified headstone is placed at his grave.
    Olivia Almagro, Hartford Courant, 16 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • But the status quo is upended by the arrival of Kyra Marshall (Anika Noni Rose), a woman with young kids who wants a stop sign for safety reasons.
    Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 22 Apr. 2026
  • If nerves come up, that’s part of the process, not a reason to stop.
    Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 22 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • While French and English companies have long dominated the extraction industry in Cameroon, Chinese companies have established a significant presence in recent years, particularly in the gold mining regions of the east.
    ABC News, ABC News, 16 Apr. 2026
  • It’s been nearly a decade since California voters legalized recreational cannabis, but production and sales remain outlawed in most of the state — and the black market dominates.
    Grant Stringer, Mercury News, 16 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • The camp is entirely dependent on aid, disrupted after cuts by USAID last year and again by fighting between Syrian and Kurdish forces this February.
    Jane Arraf, NPR, 11 Apr. 2026
  • Bosch went on to emphasize that the impact the Miss Universe crown could have was dependent on the person wearing it.
    Tabitha Parent, PEOPLE, 11 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The scientists in question worked across specialties ranging from materials processing to the development of cancer drugs, only in some cases dealing with aerospace or nuclear matters.
    Dan Adler, Vanity Fair, 22 Apr. 2026
  • The Justice Department's Weaponization Working Group is planning to release a report analyzing how the memo came to be, according to sources familiar with the matter.
    Sarah N. Lynch, CBS News, 22 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • All three are British nationals.
    ABC News, ABC News, 17 Apr. 2026
  • More than 330,000 Haitian nationals held the status as of last year, not including people who also hold green cards.
    Caitlin Yilek, CBS News, 16 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The hotel grounds include indoor and outdoor pools.
    Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 19 Apr. 2026
  • Is mere aesthetic shittiness grounds for disqualification?
    Jean Garnett, New Yorker, 18 Apr. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Subject.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/thesaurus/subject. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on subject

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster