domination

noun

dom·​i·​na·​tion ˌdä-mə-ˈnā-shən 

1

: supremacy or preeminence over another

2

: exercise of mastery or ruling power

3

: exercise of preponderant, governing, or controlling influence

4

dominations plural : dominion sense 3

Synonyms of domination

• dominance
• dominion
• supremacy
• sovereignty

Examples of domination in a Sentence

auction houses battling for domination in the high-end art market

the Spanish domination of the Americas in the 16th century

Recent Examples on the Web

Such a transformation will not be a pleasant process for the small and medium powers forced to give up their independence and accept domination by Beijing, Moscow, or Washington—and perhaps eventually by Berlin, Tokyo, or who knows who else. —Robert Kagan, The Atlantic, 18 Jan. 2026

Mainstream Democrats would do better to accept that funding ICE, regardless of how much training anyone gets, will result in more death—and that the politics of domination is a dead-end. —Literary Hub, 15 Jan. 2026

Katie Ledecky’s historic domination of the women’s 1,500-meter freestyle isn’t showing any signs of slowing. —Zack Pierce, New York Times, 15 Jan. 2026

Davidson’s new project is part of a larger push by Netflix to encroach on YouTube’s domination of the video-podcast space. —Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 14 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for domination

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation