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

The taboos against assassination, targeting civilians, and embarking on wars of territorial conquest are vanishing.

— Mark Leonard, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026
From farther north Ahmad Shah Durrani led as many as eight conquests into India, specifically into the Punjab and Delhi.

— Tamanna Nangia, Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of conquest

Verb

Several other Carpenter tracks have come close to conquering the roster but missed out by a space or two.

— Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Minnesota’s top-end talent continues to trump the depth of the Valkyries, whose success conquering the margins doesn’t seem to work against the Lynx’s magic.

— Marcus Thompson II, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of conquering

Noun

In the fall, McAfee will be a full part of the ESPN presentation nearly every day of the week — and on Mondays, a dominating presence day and night.

— Andrew Marchand, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026
Unlike human will, which can be self-serving, dominating, unjustly conditional, or confusingly unfair, God’s will is wise, loving, free, impartial, and infinitely insightful.

— The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 17 Aug. 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

This was the Blond Ambition summer on the small screen — a wave of platinum domination entirely unrelated to the release of a new Madonna album.

— Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 14 Aug. 2026
For the Muslim-majority regions that had once seen themselves as centers of learning and power, European domination over parts of Asia – including South Asia and Southeast Asia, Africa and the Middle East – was seen as humiliating.

— Mimi Hanaoka, The Conversation, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of domination

Verb

Instead of committing immediately to a single vehicle architecture, the Army is effectively subjecting multiple approaches to the same test regime and allowing battlefield performance to determine which ones deserve further investment.

— Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 14 Aug. 2026
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

Definition of subjecting

Verb

The Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon really lived up to their nickname, defeating Malawi 3-0 with all three goals coming in the first half.

— Emily Olsen, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
Moody was elected the state's attorney general twice, defeating her Democratic challenger in 2022 by more than 20 points.

— Caroline Linton, CBS News, 18 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 22 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of subjugating

noun

verb

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