as in to subdue
to bring under one's control by force of arms
explorers who subjugated the natives in the name of religion
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in conquest
the act or process of bringing someone or something under one's control
the subjugation of much of Europe by Napoléon
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of subjugate
Elan Journo, Oc Register, 10 Mar. 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
Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 17 Mar. 2026
The continent’s failure to learn could lead not just to the subjugation of individual nations but to the end of the European project.
—Liam Denning, Bloomberg, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for subjugate
Verb
Its founder, Ayatollah Khomeini, established a religious dictatorship that subjugates the Iranian people under sharia law, while zealously exporting its dogma by force.
—Elan Journo, Oc Register, 10 Mar. 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
Noun
In pre-Christian Ireland, sucking breasts was a way of showing subjugation to a king and the cutting out of Old Croghan Man’s nipples is, historians believe, an indication that he had been thus stripped of his claims to kingship.
—Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 17 Mar. 2026
The continent’s failure to learn could lead not just to the subjugation of individual nations but to the end of the European project.
—Liam Denning, Bloomberg, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for subjugate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subjugate
Verb
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The man was subdued and charged with felony assault on a law enforcement agency animal and misdemeanor resisting arrest, according to an arrest warrant.—
Mark Price,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Dec. 2025
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Royal Caribbean crew members, including security personnel, approached Virgil and tried to subdue him, according to the filing.—
Jenna Sundel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Dec. 2025
Verb
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As of Thursday afternoon, there's been just one match completed, with the Mexican National Team dominating South Africa in a 2-0 win at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
12 June 2026
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Mexico leads 1-0, and has dominated this match, controlling possession for 54% of the action so far.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
12 June 2026
Verb
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Some people think, oh, the show’s about true romance, true love conquering it all.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
8 June 2026
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Using archaeological discoveries at a site called Aghios Vasileios, Beck argues that Sparta emerged from an older Lakedaimonian cultural landscape, rather than being created from scratch by conquering warriors.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
8 June 2026
Verb
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The Miami Herald has learned Gonzalez informed the mayor that the violation could potentially subject him to arrest, though Calvo ultimately received only civil citations and was not taken into custody.—
Verónica Egui Brito,
Miami Herald,
15 June 2026
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To avoid subjecting yourself to heat stress, try to do most of your outdoor work in the early morning or at dusk when the weather is cooler.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
15 June 2026
Verb
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Across fixtures which mirror the opening half-a-dozen matches of the first team’s Champions League campaign, Newcastle were defeated on every occasion.—
Chris Waugh,
New York Times,
12 Dec. 2025
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So that led to the biggest shock of all when after Steven blocked Savannah’s vote, and Sophi’s Knowledge is Power fizzled in spectacular fashion, and Tres Leches seemed despondent and defeated… that Steven ended up being unanimously voted out anyway!—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
11 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Subjugate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subjugate. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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