as in to subdue
to bring under one's control by force of arms
explorers who subjugated the natives in the name of religion
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Recent Examples of subjugate
Russia’s war against Ukraine has much broader aims than subjugating an independent country.
—
Ivo H. Daalder, Foreign Affairs, 10 Sep. 2025
Karina has subjugated the Macris—former president Mauricio and Buenos Aires City Mayor Jorge.
—Agustino Fontevecchia, Forbes.com, 4 Sep. 2025
Its propaganda revels in its desire to subjugate small European countries—and celebrates the idea America could soon join it to carve up the continent.
—Peter Pomerantsev, Time, 14 Aug. 2025
All expanded the Russian empire -- and subjugated the people and areas that now form Ukraine.
—David Brennan, ABC News, 13 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for subjugate
Ivo H. Daalder, Foreign Affairs, 10 Sep. 2025
Karina has subjugated the Macris—former president Mauricio and Buenos Aires City Mayor Jorge.
—Agustino Fontevecchia, Forbes.com, 4 Sep. 2025
Its propaganda revels in its desire to subjugate small European countries—and celebrates the idea America could soon join it to carve up the continent.
—Peter Pomerantsev, Time, 14 Aug. 2025
All expanded the Russian empire -- and subjugated the people and areas that now form Ukraine.
—David Brennan, ABC News, 13 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for subjugate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subjugate
Verb
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Nazism’s total domination politically and socially found an aesthetic counterpart in the visual reduction of bodies to things, ecstatically subdued before the hypnotic power of a leader, force, or sublime beauty.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Jan. 2026
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Barack Obama also availed himself of caution, reluctance and NATO partners to use air power to subdue chaos on the ground in Libya.—
John Brummett,
Washington Post,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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On the other hand, the Panthers haven’t truly been able to establish the run in a month, and that was the key to dominating the possession battle and keeping the ball away from Sean McVay’s offense.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Jan. 2026
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While energy and transportation dominate the conversation, factory farming remains a leading source of greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation, water pollution and biodiversity loss.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Having conquered the pop world with ease, Rosalía is now embracing difficulty.—
Kelefa Sanneh,
New Yorker,
7 Nov. 2025
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Toyota may be struggling against Tesla in the global EV sweepstakes, but Hello Kitty is conquering the world.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Perpetrators used deception to move them across country borders and subjected them to harm under the pretense of employment.—
Mónica Ramírez,
Time,
8 Jan. 2026
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From there, lab directors select the wells with the highest concentrations of each virus, subjecting a reserved portion to further genetic analysis, which shows which subtype of each virus is present.—
Paul Sisson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Pelosi retires and Dems begin generational civil war Nancy Pelosi, 85, announced her retirement yesterday as a new generation of much younger Democrats bridles against the elderly cadre under former President Biden, 82, who led them to defeat in the last presidential election.—
Geoff Colvin,
Fortune,
7 Nov. 2025
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He and Democrat Rebecca Cooke may be headed for a rematch in 2026, after Van Orden defeated Cooke in 2024.—
Molly Beck,
jsonline.com,
7 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Subjugate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subjugate. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
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