subjugate 1 of 2

verb

ˈsəb-ji-ˌgāt How to pronounce subjugate (audio)
Definition of subjugatenext
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

subjugation

2 of 2

noun

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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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
Verb
It’s gotten there by largely avoiding the trap of remaking the original story, in which an astronaut (Heston) crash-lands on a mysterious world in which apes are the dominant species and humans are subjugated, nonverbal creatures. — Jesse Hassenger, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Sep. 2026 This would rake in untold billions of dollars for the company — and all but ensure that its lofty, moral duty would forever be subjugated the money-making whims of Wall Street. — Frank Landymore, Futurism, 5 Aug. 2026
Noun
For many Indians, the loss of the Koh-i-Noor is symbolic of the country's subjugation under colonial rule. — Alexa Herrera, CBS News, 29 Apr. 2026 Across TikTok, Instagram, Threads, YouTube, Goodreads, and Reddit, reactions have focused less on the craft of fiction writing than on the spiritual subjugation of women that any media about this topic must, by nature, interrogate and include. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 28 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for subjugate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subjugate
  1. subdue
  2. dominate
  3. conquer
  4. subject
  5. defeat
Verb
  • Having asserted their power, voters proved difficult to subdue again.
    — Asim Ali, Time, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Police said officers used a less-lethal weapon to subdue Sims and take him into custody.
    — Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of subdue
Verb
  • Vucic dominated Serbian politics since becoming president of the Serbian Progressive Party, or SNS, in 2012, then becoming prime minister in 2014, then switching over to president in 2017.
    — Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Club name Meta Platforms , as well as SpaceX and Anthropic, are dominating the headlines on Monday with plans to raise their share of the shrinking capital pie for the next legs of their AI ambitions.
    — Zev Fima, CNBC, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of dominate
Verb
  • Experts who study plague are reluctant to say it’s been completely conquered.
    — Faye Flam, Scientific American, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Eleven country-pop songs behind a cover with a distinctly 2000s aesthetic, from a Pennsylvania girl with her sights set on conquering Nashville.
    — Ilaria Perrotta, Vanity Fair, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of conquer
Verb
  • The predominant method entails producers sealing off the vents, which causes temperatures to rise and slowly subject the birds to death via heatstroke.
    — Kenny Torrella, Vox, 20 Oct. 2026
  • The company then needs to incorporate that hardware into a complete Neutron first stage, and then subject that stage to a battery of tests.
    — Mike Wall, Space.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of subject
Verb
  • This was the sixth year in a row that the Yankees failed to defeat a higher-seeded playoff opponent.
    — Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Although supporters say the fear that billionaires will flee the state are overblown, the ultrawealthy have made moves to potentially avoid paying the tax or are funding campaigns to defeat it.
    — Queenie Wong, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of defeat

Browse Nearby Words

subjoins
subjugate
subjugated
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Cite this Entry

“Subjugate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subjugate. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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