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Incidental vs Subordinate - What's the difference?

incidental | subordinate |

As adjectives the difference between incidental and subordinate

is that incidental is loosely associated; existing as a byproduct, tangent, or accident while subordinate is placed in a lower class, rank, or position.

As nouns the difference between incidental and subordinate

is that incidental is incidental expense while subordinate is (one who is subordinate) One who is subordinate.

As a verb subordinate is

to make subservient.

incidental

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Loosely associated; existing as a byproduct, tangent, or accident.
  • That character, though colorful, is incidental to the overall plot.
  • Entering or approaching, prior to reflection (more frequently incident).
  • Derived terms

    * incidental expense * incidentally

    Synonyms

    *(existing as an accident) accidental, contingent

    Antonyms

    *(existing as an accident) inevitable, necessary, impossible

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Incidental expense.
  • She's costing us a lot in incidentals .

    Anagrams

    * ----

    subordinate

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Placed in a lower class, rank, or position.
  • * Woodward
  • The several kinds and subordinate species of each are easily distinguished.
  • Submissive or inferior to, or controlled by, authority.
  • * South
  • It was subordinate , not enslaved, to the understanding.
  • (grammar, of a clause, not comparable) dependent on and either modifying or complementing the main clause
  • In the sentence, “The barbecue finished before John arrived”, the subordinate clause “before John arrived” specifies the time of the main clause, “The barbecue finished”.

    Synonyms

    * lesser * (sense) dependent

    Antonyms

    * superior, superordinate * (Submissive to or controlled by authority) insubordinate * (sense) independent, main

    See also

    * inferior

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (senseid)(countable) One who is subordinate.
  • Synonyms

    * (one who is subordinate) inferior, junior, report, underling, understrapper

    Antonyms

    * (one who is subordinate) boss, commander, leader, manager, superior, supervisor

    Verb

    (subordinat)
  • To make subservient.
  • To treat as of less value or importance.
  • (finance) To make of lower priority in order of payment in bankruptcy.
  • Synonyms

    * (treat as of less value or importance) belittle, denigrate