as in conquest
the act or process of bringing someone or something under one's control
the subjugation of much of Europe by Napoléon
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Recent Examples of subjugation
Many slaves, Murray noted, internalized this ideal of American freedom despite their own subjugation.
—
Thomas Chatterton Williams, The Atlantic, 13 Feb. 2026
After weeks of subjugation at Linda's hands, Bradley discovers that his fiancée and her boat guide had come to the island to rescue them—but Linda killed the pair to avoid returning to the real world.
—Megan McCluskey, Time, 30 Jan. 2026
America is rooted in the rejection of arbitrary power and the subjugation of the individual to the state.
—Agustina Vergara Cid, Oc Register, 23 Jan. 2026
By the closing epilogue of the MM romance novel, the author must figure out how to create honest stakes for a gay couple in an overwhelmingly heteronormative context that threatens the heroes with societal subjugation and maybe even physical punishment.
—Literary Hub, 22 Jan. 2026
This aggressive subjugation of a country that was not, in fact, a threat to the United States doesn’t make America safer or more prosperous and likely makes the whole region less stable.
—Elizabeth Shackelford, Chicago Tribune, 9 Jan. 2026
This level of dealmaking far exceeds the bowling alley bets and small-time street gambles that have shaped Marty’s way of moving in the world, and Rockwell represents the kind of ruthless American capitalism and competition that requires humiliation and subjugation.
—Katie Walsh, Boston Herald, 25 Dec. 2025
Some have also seized the opportunity to revive familiar nationalist rhetoric, invoking longstanding grievances over Japan’s subjugation of much of China in the 1930s and 40s.
—Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Nov. 2025
The United States has supported Ukraine in resisting Russia’s attempt at subjugation, sending billions of dollars’ worth of advanced weaponry to its armed forces.
—Rebecca Lissner, Foreign Affairs, 14 Nov. 2025
Thomas Chatterton Williams, The Atlantic, 13 Feb. 2026
After weeks of subjugation at Linda's hands, Bradley discovers that his fiancée and her boat guide had come to the island to rescue them—but Linda killed the pair to avoid returning to the real world.
—Megan McCluskey, Time, 30 Jan. 2026
America is rooted in the rejection of arbitrary power and the subjugation of the individual to the state.
—Agustina Vergara Cid, Oc Register, 23 Jan. 2026
By the closing epilogue of the MM romance novel, the author must figure out how to create honest stakes for a gay couple in an overwhelmingly heteronormative context that threatens the heroes with societal subjugation and maybe even physical punishment.
—Literary Hub, 22 Jan. 2026
This aggressive subjugation of a country that was not, in fact, a threat to the United States doesn’t make America safer or more prosperous and likely makes the whole region less stable.
—Elizabeth Shackelford, Chicago Tribune, 9 Jan. 2026
This level of dealmaking far exceeds the bowling alley bets and small-time street gambles that have shaped Marty’s way of moving in the world, and Rockwell represents the kind of ruthless American capitalism and competition that requires humiliation and subjugation.
—Katie Walsh, Boston Herald, 25 Dec. 2025
Some have also seized the opportunity to revive familiar nationalist rhetoric, invoking longstanding grievances over Japan’s subjugation of much of China in the 1930s and 40s.
—Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Nov. 2025
The United States has supported Ukraine in resisting Russia’s attempt at subjugation, sending billions of dollars’ worth of advanced weaponry to its armed forces.
—Rebecca Lissner, Foreign Affairs, 14 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subjugation
Noun
-
Ours are quests that lead to questions rather than conquests – journeys that gather instead of conquer.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
16 Mar. 2026
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Hauser stressed that the site could shed new light on the Parthian Empire, which controlled the city centuries after Alexander's conquest.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Many observers were taken aback by his haughty tone, hypermasculine preoccupation with domination, giddiness about violence and casual attitude toward death.—
Casey Ryan Kelly,
The Conversation,
9 Mar. 2026
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Then for the first time in a real race, rocket starts by Charles Leclerc, who went from fourth to first by Turn 1, and Lewis Hamilton from down in seventh, teased a potential fight that would disrupt the Mercedes domination narrative.—
Luke Smith,
New York Times,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The game was scoreless after the first half despite the United States dominating possession by nearly 70%.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 Mar. 2026
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Even with the Haaland situation dominating headlines, there are clear midfield priorities heading into the next gameweek.—
Abdul Rehman,
New York Times,
2 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Subjugation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subjugation. Accessed 19 Mar. 2026.
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