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
Relevance
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
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 subjugate
Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 7 Jan. 2026
The display features replicas of historical tools used to subjugate communities of color, including an interactive consensus that allows insight into how people would have been categorized over time.
—Sophia Arndt, Twin Cities, 22 Nov. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for subjugate
Verb
Not forcing her to go means hurting the other girl, forcing her to go means teaching your daughter that her own comfort should be subjugated to make someone else happy.
—Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 7 Jan. 2026
The display features replicas of historical tools used to subjugate communities of color, including an interactive consensus that allows insight into how people would have been categorized over time.
—Sophia Arndt, Twin Cities, 22 Nov. 2025
Noun
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
See All Example Sentences for subjugate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subjugate
Verb
-
Even so, the reaction of the market has been relatively subdued, said David Butter, an energy expert on the Middle East at the Chatham House think tank.—
Nabih Bulos,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Video from the scene shows a security detail member being taken to the ground as officers worked to subdue the suspects.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
By the time the 2010’s rolled around, audiences were primed for a foreign-film conquest.—
Steven Zeitchik,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Mar. 2026
-
There is no longer channeling but crossing, no longer constraint but conquest; the human flow can beat to its own rhythm, supported by spatial structure yet independent of the formal organization of its support.—
Elinore Weil,
Artforum,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
But Miami negated that deficit by dominating in the paint and at the foul line.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
6 Mar. 2026
-
The Iran strikes have understandably been dominating recent social media posts.—
Tamara Hardingham-Gill,
CNN Money,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The main takeaway from the game against the Johnnies was the domination by Reed, who is proving to be the team’s X-factor down the stretch.—
Joe Arruda,
Hartford Courant,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Applying decolonial frameworks risks making the visibility of artists and artworks contingent on their colonization, measuring all cultural production against the fact of imperial domination.—
Anel Rakhimzhanova,
Artforum,
1 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Shakespeare’s fierce and primal tragedy follows the celebrated warrior who knows how to conquer enemies but not how to win hearts.—
Cincinnati Enquirer,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
7 Mar. 2026
-
After fashion’s front row set conquered London, the caravan rolled onto Milan Fashion Week, where the energy felt instantly amplified.—
Amanda Le,
InStyle,
4 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The game was scoreless after the first half despite the United States dominating possession by nearly 70%.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 Mar. 2026
-
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
Verb
-
Fans and politicians had intensified calls to examine Live Nation’s 2010 acquisition of Ticketmaster, after the company subjected Taylor Swift fans to hours-long online queues while charging high prices for tickets to her 2022 Eras tour.—
Reuters
Wire Service,
Dallas Morning News,
9 Mar. 2026
-
The very first episode of ANTM subjected the contestants to on-camera Brazilian bikini waxes and then sent them up to a Manhattan roof terrace to pose in swimwear in frigid weather.—
Sophie Gilbert,
The Atlantic,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Luka Doncic scored 44 points despite not playing the fourth quarter, and the Lakers defeated the struggling Indiana Pacers 128-117 on Friday night with LeBron James and Deandre Ayton out because of injury.—
Broderick Turner,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Birdville defeated Heritage 77-71 in the state semifinals last season before falling in the state title game to Beaumont West Brook in overtime.—
Darren Lauber,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
7 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Subjugate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subjugate. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
