as in to conquer
to bring under one's control by force of arms
explorers who subjugated the natives in the name of religion
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in conquest
the act or process of bringing someone or something under one's control
the subjugation of much of Europe by Napoléon
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 subjugate
Tesfaye Negussie, ABC News, 24 Dec. 2024
Otherwise, there is absolutely no indication that Russia won’t wait and regroup and pursue the same goals later on—in other words, subjugating Ukraine, carrying out regime change, and making sure that Ukraine remains essentially in the Russian sphere of influence.
—Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 5 Mar. 2025
The whole point is to humiliate weaker men – and to subjugate women.
—Robert B. Reich, Hartford Courant, 4 Mar. 2025
Those who get to the AI pot of gold first will then become geo-political superpowers; we will be subjugated to their whims.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for subjugate
Verb
The organization championed self-determination and economic independence for Black people at a time when Jim Crow laws oppressed African Americans and colonization subjugated Africans on their own continent.
—Tesfaye Negussie, ABC News, 24 Dec. 2024
Otherwise, there is absolutely no indication that Russia won’t wait and regroup and pursue the same goals later on—in other words, subjugating Ukraine, carrying out regime change, and making sure that Ukraine remains essentially in the Russian sphere of influence.
—Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 5 Mar. 2025
The whole point is to humiliate weaker men – and to subjugate women.
—Robert B. Reich, Hartford Courant, 4 Mar. 2025
Those who get to the AI pot of gold first will then become geo-political superpowers; we will be subjugated to their whims.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for subjugate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subjugate
Verb
-
This year, he was tasked with conquering the opponent’s best hitters in Game 1, and that doesn’t figure to change.—
Zack Meisel,
New York Times,
28 Mar. 2025
-
Italy’s style of football is designed to defend, not to conquer.—
Philipp Lahm,
The Athletic,
24 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
An initial assessment suggests the items were buried around the time of the Roman conquest of southern Britain, in the first century AD.—
Lianne Kolirin,
CNN,
25 Mar. 2025
-
The conquest of love will not be abstract but vividly concrete for everyone, especially young people, and soon.—
Jaron Lanier,
The New Yorker,
22 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
The clean, modern lines, subdued colors, abundant natural light, and open floor plan all checked out.—
Berit Thorkelson,
Better Homes & Gardens,
1 Apr. 2025
-
Looking ahead, Wolf reckoned that EMs can move higher if the U.S. dollar continues to weaken and the impact of tariffs on overall trade is subdued.—
Amala Balakrishner,
CNBC,
31 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
While other teams have made more headlines — McLaren’s domination and its team orders, Hamilton’s rollercoaster start at Ferrari, and Red Bull’s second-driver turmoil — Mercedes has enjoyed its best start to a year since 2021.—
Luke Smith,
New York Times,
2 Apr. 2025
-
Four-time national champion Aaron Brooks… faith, domination.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
26 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Politics are dominating the popular vernacular like never before, and the introduction of the Trump store on Amazon will certainly add to that ongoing conversation.—
Rosemary Feitelberg,
Footwear News,
7 Apr. 2025
-
The singer-songwriter has spent the past several years not just dominating the music rankings in the U.S. and abroad, but essentially rewriting what commercial success looks like for a solo artist in the modern age.—
Hugh McIntyre,
Forbes.com,
7 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
In addition to subjecting them to electric shocks for interrogations, guards would force prisoners to stand in uncomfortable positions and then hit them in the genitals or knock them to the ground, according to Shyshko.—
Patrick Reevell,
ABC News,
4 Apr. 2025
-
But plastic is a poor reflector of X-rays, which allowed the deadly disc to evade detection and subjecting the mother, grandmother and beloved family matriarch to prolonged anguish that culminated in her death on Dec. 13, 2023.—
Paul Sisson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Out of Spokane Regional 1, No. 1 overall seed UCLA advances to their first Final Four in program history in the modern era after defeating No. 3 LSU, 72-65.—
Allison Smith,
Forbes.com,
31 Mar. 2025
-
Orange County officials pitched a sales tax increase to voters that was soundly defeated in 2022.—
Skyler Swisher,
The Orlando Sentinel,
30 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Subjugate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subjugate. Accessed 12 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share