SUBJUGATING Synonyms: 71 Similar and Opposite Words

subjugating 1 of 2

noun

as in conquest

the act or process of bringing someone or something under one's control a military occupation that was seen by the people of that country as just another subjugating by an outside power

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subjugating

2 of 2

verb

present participle of subjugate

as in conquering

to bring under one's control by force of arms explorers who subjugated the natives in the name of religion

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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 subjugating

Noun

The anti-Zionist project of ending Israel’s existence as a Jewish state implies killing, subjugating, or re-exiling more than half of the world’s Jewish population. — David Frum, The Atlantic, 13 Mar. 2026

Verb

Every administration has its own policy agenda and preferences, but this goes beyond that, subjugating science to partisanship and holding research and infrastructure money hostage throughout much of the country. — David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 28 July 2026 Likewise, meekness once meant not becoming weak, but subjugating power to reason – not letting anger take control. — Timothy J. Pawl, The Conversation, 23 Feb. 2026 However, once Hernán Cortés triumphed, the conquistadors went from waging war — vanquishing the Aztecs — to the project of subjugating Indigenous holdouts and building a self-sustaining territory loyal to the crown. — Foreign Correspondent, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for subjugating

Noun

Since work resumed at Tell El-Deir in 2007, archaeologists have found thousands of artifacts, linked mainly to the 26th Dynasty (664–525 BCE), the last royal family of Egyptian origin before the Persian conquest of Egypt.

— Anne Doran, ARTnews.com, 31 July 2026
With artifacts like the bullets, archaeologists now have a better understanding of where the nearly two-century-long struggle finally ended—and who took responsibility for the conquest.

— Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 30 July 2026

Definition of conquest

Verb

The all-conquering Liverpool side of the 1980s were twice fortunate to escape with a 1-1 draw, too.

— Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026
In the eighteenth century, while Russia fixated on conquering Eurasia, Britain developed the steam engine; in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, while Europeans fought over Africa, Americans mastered the assembly line.

— Evan Osnos, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of conquering

Noun

The trend cycle in beauty is rapid, but there’s not one identifiable aesthetic dominating the present moment.

— Marisa Meltzer, Vanity Fair, 4 Aug. 2026
Brewing giant Anheuser-Busch InBev has had a long-running partnership with the NFL centered on Budweiser, Bud Light, Michelob Ultra and Stella Artois, dominating alcohol beverage market share within the league’s 32 football stadiums.

— John Kell, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026

Definition of dominating

Verb

This means the market makers, often called dealers, are the ones that have to play catch-up, adding to volatility instead of subduing it.

— Oliver Renick, CNBC, 23 July 2026
Rome — The death of a Moroccan man in police custody has sparked protests – some violent – in the northern city of Bologna after video of the incident showing officers forcefully subduing the man circulated online.

— CNN Money, CNN Money, 21 July 2026

Definition of subduing

Noun

Most recently, he’s rallied to add a further bit of brightness to his public profile by turning in a stellar domination of the Ohio Derby, much to the relief of his veteran trainer Steve Asmussen and his jockey Jose Ortiz.

— Guy Martin, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
The quick, decisive defeat marked Rome’s final domination of the peninsula and solidified their influence over regional trade and military routes.

— Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 30 July 2026

Definition of domination

Verb

Delta Upsilon was removed from KU’s campus in 2018 after fraternity members were found to have violated the student code by subjecting prospective members to sleep deprivation, physical violence and forced alcohol consumption.

— Cuyler Dunn, Kansas City Star, 29 July 2026
On July 7, the Board of Directors approved an ordinance to move forward without subjecting the design work to competitive bids, using the Bezos Earth Fund dollars under the control of chamber officials.

— Joseph Flaherty, Arkansas Online, 22 July 2026

Definition of subjecting

Verb

Instead of overcoming their fatal flaw and defeating their shadow-self, the titular Eternals are reckoning with their relationship to God and the grand arc of human history.

— EW Staff, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Aug. 2026
Oba Femi, who rose to prominence after defeating Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 42 and winning the 2026 King of the Ring, recently concluded his intense rivalry with Lesnar.

— Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026

Definition of defeating

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subjugates

subjugating

subjugation

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“Subjugating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subjugating. Accessed 8 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of subjugating

noun

verb

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