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
Putin began the year projecting confidence about his campaign to subjugate Ukraine, despite incremental progress on the battlefield. — Nathan Hodge, CNN Money, 11 Mar. 2026 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
Noun
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 That power was built up over centuries partly to compensate for the humiliation, subjugation, and grievous bondage of Russia’s history, real and imagined. — Literary Hub, 3 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
  • He was subdued by federal agents and police officers moments later.
    — Alex Nitzberg , Peter D'Abrosca , Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 20 July 2026
  • India has been the most prolific IPO market in the world over the last two years, with the highest number listings, but activity was subdued here during the first half of the year.
    — Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 17 July 2026
Definition of subdue
Verb
  • But the two young women, who last year launched Cascade, are not concerned about being taken seriously in a traditionally conservative sector dominated by men.
    — David Prosser, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
  • That’s not to say the politics that so often dominate our lives were absent or should have been ignored.
    — Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 20 July 2026
Definition of dominate
Verb
  • The tide, in the form of the conquering Taliban, has washed it away.
    — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 20 July 2026
  • In southern Ecuador, the Cañari were conquered by Quechuan speakers, and their own language went extinct.
    — Nikhil Krishnan, New Yorker, 20 July 2026
Definition of conquer
Verb
  • On July 7, the Board of Directors approved an ordinance to move forward without subjecting the design work to competitive bids, using the Bezos Earth Fund dollars under the control of chamber officials.
    — Joseph Flaherty, Arkansas Online, 22 July 2026
  • In 1921, the Federal Aid Highway Act gave the word an official definition, subjecting it to regulation.
    — Charles Bethea, New Yorker, 20 July 2026
Definition of subject
Verb
  • The defending men’s singles champion is Serbia’s Novak Djokovic, who defeated Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz in the gold medal match in 2024; the defending women’s champion is China’s Zheng Qinwen, who defeated Croatia’s Donna Vekić.
    — Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 24 July 2026
  • Drones alone cannot defeat the Russian army, and the culture of Silicon Valley cannot supplant the need for military discipline, Syrsky argued in a column for Militarnyi, a Ukrainian publication focused on defense.
    — Simon Shuster, The Atlantic, 24 July 2026
Definition of defeat

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subjugate
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Cite this Entry

“Subjugate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subjugate. Accessed 26 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on subjugate

Nglish: Translation of subjugate for Spanish Speakers

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