Difference Wiki

Passive vs. Submissive

Edited by Sumera Saeed || By Sawaira Riaz || Updated on September 21, 2023
"Passive" implies lack of reaction or resistance, while "Submissive" denotes willingly yielding to others, often implying obedience.

Key Differences

Both "Passive" and "Submissive" entail different levels of engagement and reaction in varying situations. While "Passive" individuals might not engage or respond, "Submissive" ones tend to actively yield, showcasing a level of compliance and acceptance.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 21, 2023
"Passive" and "Submissive" are adjectives with distinct nuances, where "Passive" refers to the absence of active response or resistance, often implying inactivity or acceptance. In contrast, "Submissive" implies a willingness or inclination to submit, often showcasing obedience or deference to authority.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 21, 2023
It is crucial to understand that being "Passive" doesn’t automatically mean one is "Submissive." A person might be "Passive" due to indifference, whereas a "Submissive" individual generally acknowledges the dominance or control of another and complies willingly.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 21, 2023
The idea of being "Passive" can be related to various scenarios, like receiving actions rather than initiating them. "Submissive," however, is more explicitly connected to relationships and dynamics, focusing on the act of yielding or surrendering one’s will or preferences.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 21, 2023
A "Passive" individual may not necessarily agree with or accept a situation but refrains from expressing opposition or engaging actively. "Submissive" individuals, on the other hand, may willingly adhere to another’s command, authority, or will, often demonstrating acceptance or agreement.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 21, 2023

Comparison Chart

Nature

Refers to lack of reaction or resistance
Denotes willingly yielding or obedience
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 21, 2023
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Engagement

May imply inactivity or acceptance
Implies a level of active yielding or compliance
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 21, 2023

Relationship Dynamics

Can be unrelated to relationship dynamics
More explicitly related to relationships and power dynamics
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 21, 2023

Willingness

Doesn’t necessarily imply willingness or agreement
Often implies a willingness to obey or defer
Harlon Moss
Sep 21, 2023

Contextual Application

Can be applied to various contexts, not only interpersonal
More often applied to interpersonal relationships and dynamics
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 21, 2023

Passive and Submissive Definitions

Passive

Receiving or enduring without resistance.
He remained Passive during the heated debate.
Samantha Walker
Sep 21, 2023

Submissive

Inclined or willing to submit to orders or wishes of others.
He was Submissive, accepting the tasks without protest.
Harlon Moss
Sep 21, 2023
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Passive

Not participating actively.
She was Passive in group discussions.
Samantha Walker
Sep 21, 2023

Submissive

Showing a willingness to be compliant or accommodating.
The team was Submissive to the new policies.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 21, 2023

Passive

Lacking in energy or will.
His Passive demeanor made him seem indifferent.
Aimie Carlson
Sep 21, 2023

Submissive

Ready to conform to the authority or will of others.
Her Submissive nature was evident in her demeanor.
Aimie Carlson
Sep 21, 2023

Passive

Inactive; acted upon but not acting.
The legislation affected many Passive recipients.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 21, 2023

Submissive

Yielding or surrendering oneself to the will of another.
He was Submissive to his mentor’s instructions.
Samantha Walker
Sep 21, 2023
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Passive

Receiving or subjected to an action without responding or initiating an action in return
The mind viewed as a passive receptacle for sensory experience.
Sawaira Riaz
Feb 19, 2023

Submissive

Meekly obedient or passive.
The dog was Submissive, following every command.
Harlon Moss
Sep 21, 2023

Passive

Accepting or submitting without objection or resistance; submissive
A passive acceptance of one's fate.
Sawaira Riaz
Feb 19, 2023

Submissive

Inclined or willing to submit.
Sawaira Riaz
Feb 19, 2023

Passive

Existing, conducted, or experienced without active or concerted effort
“Although tick paralysis is a reportable disease in Washington, surveillance is passive, and only 10 cases were reported during 1987–1995” (US Department of Health and Human Services). “[Many parents believe] that computers are educational and, at the least, less passive than television” (Laurie Hays).
Sawaira Riaz
Feb 19, 2023

Submissive

Obedient or passive.
Sawaira Riaz
Feb 19, 2023

Passive

Of, relating to, or being certain bonds or shares that do not bear financial interest.
Sawaira Riaz
Feb 19, 2023

Submissive

(BDSM) One who submits to a dominant partner in BDSM practices.
Sawaira Riaz
Feb 19, 2023

Passive

Of, relating to, or being a solar heating or cooling system that uses no external mechanical power.
Sawaira Riaz
Feb 19, 2023

Submissive

(rare) One who submits.
Sawaira Riaz
Feb 19, 2023

Passive

(Grammar) Of, relating to, or being a verb form or voice used to indicate that the grammatical subject is the object of the action or the effect of the verb. For example, in the sentence They were impressed by his manner, were impressed is in the passive voice.
Sawaira Riaz
Feb 19, 2023

Submissive

Inclined or ready to submit; acknowledging one's inferiority; yielding; obedient; humble.
Not at his feet submissive in distress,Creature so fair his reconcilement seeking.
Sawaira Riaz
Feb 19, 2023

Passive

(Chemistry) Unreactive except under special or extreme conditions; inert.
Sawaira Riaz
Feb 19, 2023

Submissive

Showing a readiness to submit; expressing submission; as, a submissive demeanor.
With a submissive step I hasted down.
Sawaira Riaz
Feb 19, 2023

Passive

(Electronics) Exhibiting no gain or contributing no energy
A passive circuit element.
Sawaira Riaz
Feb 19, 2023

Submissive

Inclined or willing to submit to orders or wishes of others or showing such inclination;
Submissive servants
A submissive reply
Replacing troublemakers with more submissive people
Sawaira Riaz
Feb 19, 2023

Passive

The passive voice.
Sawaira Riaz
Feb 19, 2023

Submissive

Willing to submit without resistance to authority; deferent
Sawaira Riaz
Feb 19, 2023

Passive

A verb or construction in the passive voice.
Sawaira Riaz
Feb 19, 2023

Submissive

Abjectly submissive; characteristic of a slave or servant;
Slavish devotion to her job ruled her life
A slavish yes-man to the party bosses
She has become submissive and subservient
Sawaira Riaz
Feb 19, 2023

Passive

Being subjected to an action without producing a reaction.
Sawaira Riaz
Feb 19, 2023

Passive

Taking no action.
He remained passive during the protest.
Sawaira Riaz
Feb 19, 2023

Passive

(grammar) Being in the passive voice.
Sawaira Riaz
Feb 19, 2023

Passive

(psychology) Being inactive and submissive in a relationship, especially in a sexual one.
Sawaira Riaz
Feb 19, 2023

Passive

(finance) Not participating in management.
Sawaira Riaz
Feb 19, 2023

Passive

(aviation) Without motive power.
A passive balloon; a passive aeroplane; passive flight, such as gliding and soaring
Sawaira Riaz
Feb 19, 2023

Passive

(electronics) Of a component: that consumes but does not produce energy, or is incapable of power gain.
Sawaira Riaz
Feb 19, 2023

Passive

Where allowance is made for a possible future event.
Sawaira Riaz
Feb 19, 2023

Passive

(grammar) The passive voice of verbs.
Sawaira Riaz
Feb 19, 2023

Passive

(grammar) A form of a verb that is in the passive voice.
Sawaira Riaz
Feb 19, 2023

Passive

(marketing) A customer who is satisfied with a product or service, but not keen enough to promote it by word of mouth.
Sawaira Riaz
Feb 19, 2023

Passive

(electronics) Any component that consumes but does not produce energy, or is incapable of power gain.
Sawaira Riaz
Feb 19, 2023

Passive

Not active, but acted upon; suffering or receiving impressions or influences; as, they were passive spectators, not actors in the scene.
The passive airUpbore their nimble tread.
The mind is wholly passive in the reception of all its simple ideas.
Sawaira Riaz
Feb 19, 2023

Passive

Receiving or enduring without either active sympathy or active resistance; without emotion or excitement; patient; not opposing; unresisting; as, passive obedience; passive submission.
The best virtue, passive fortitude.
Sawaira Riaz
Feb 19, 2023

Passive

Inactive; inert; unreactive; not showing strong affinity; as, red phosphorus is comparatively passive.
Sawaira Riaz
Feb 19, 2023

Passive

Designating certain morbid conditions, as hemorrhage or dropsy, characterized by relaxation of the vessels and tissues, with deficient vitality and lack of reaction in the affected tissues.
Sawaira Riaz
Feb 19, 2023

Passive

The voice used to indicate that the grammatical subject of the verb is the recipient (not the source) of the action denoted by the verb;
`The ball was thrown by the boy' uses the passive voice
`The ball was thrown' is an abbreviated passive
Sawaira Riaz
Feb 19, 2023

Passive

Lacking in energy or will;
Much benevolence of the passive order may be traced to a disinclination to inflict pain upon oneself
Sawaira Riaz
Feb 19, 2023

Passive

Peacefully resistant in response to injustice;
Passive resistance
Sawaira Riaz
Feb 19, 2023

Passive

Expressing thatthe subject of the sentence is the patient of the action denoted by the verb;
Academics seem to favor passive sentences
Sawaira Riaz
Feb 19, 2023

Passive

Accepting or allowing what happens without active response or resistance.
He was Passive, letting events unfold as they may.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 21, 2023

FAQs

Does being Submissive always mean lacking in self-assertiveness?

Generally, yes, Submissive individuals typically don’t assert their own will against others.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 21, 2023

Can Submissive be used in non-interpersonal contexts?

It’s most commonly used in interpersonal contexts but can be used metaphorically elsewhere.
Aimie Carlson
Sep 21, 2023

Are Passive and Submissive synonymous?

No, Passive implies inaction or lack of resistance; Submissive implies willingly yielding or obeying.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 21, 2023

Can someone be Passive without being Submissive?

Yes, one can be indifferent and not resist without yielding or obeying another’s will.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 21, 2023

Does being Submissive imply weakness?

Not necessarily; it might be a conscious choice based on context and relationships.
Samantha Walker
Sep 21, 2023

Is being Submissive considered a negative trait?

It can be viewed negatively or positively, depending on cultural, contextual, and individual perspectives.
Harlon Moss
Sep 21, 2023

Can being Passive be a form of resistance?

Ironically, yes. Passive resistance is a nonviolent opposition or non-cooperation.
Samantha Walker
Sep 21, 2023

Is Passive a synonym for inaction?

Yes, Passive often implies a lack of action or response.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 21, 2023

Can a Submissive person be assertive in some situations?

Yes, being Submissive in some situations doesn’t preclude assertiveness in others.
Samantha Walker
Sep 21, 2023

Does being Passive imply agreement or acceptance?

Not always; sometimes, it might be due to indifference or inability to act.
Aimie Carlson
Sep 21, 2023

Is being Submissive related to respect and acknowledgment of authority?

Often, yes, it might imply a recognition of and respect for authority or dominance.
Janet White
Sep 21, 2023

Can being Passive be a strategic approach?

Yes, sometimes being Passive can be strategic, especially in conflict-avoidance situations.
Harlon Moss
Sep 21, 2023

Is being Passive a choice?

It can be, but sometimes it might result from indifference or inability to respond.
Janet White
Sep 21, 2023

Is there a positive aspect to being Passive?

Yes, it can help in avoiding unnecessary conflicts and maintaining peace in certain situations.
Aimie Carlson
Sep 21, 2023

Can Submissiveness be empowering in any context?

Potentially, when it’s a conscious choice, it can lead to harmonious relationships and personal growth.
Janet White
Sep 21, 2023
About Author
Written by
Sawaira Riaz
Sawaira is a dedicated content editor at difference.wiki, where she meticulously refines articles to ensure clarity and accuracy. With a keen eye for detail, she upholds the site's commitment to delivering insightful and precise content.
Edited by
Sumera Saeed
Sumera is an experienced content writer and editor with a niche in comparative analysis. At Diffeence Wiki, she crafts clear and unbiased comparisons to guide readers in making informed decisions. With a dedication to thorough research and quality, Sumera's work stands out in the digital realm. Off the clock, she enjoys reading and exploring diverse cultures.

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