subjugate
Americanverb
-
to bring into subjection
-
to make subservient or submissive
Other Word Forms
- nonsubjugable adjective
- self-subjugating adjective
- subjugable adjective
- subjugation noun
- subjugator noun
- unsubjugated adjective
Etymology
Origin of subjugate
1400–50; late Middle English < Late Latin subjugātus, past participle of subjugāre to subjugate, equivalent to sub- sub- + jug ( um ) yoke 1 + -ātus -ate 1
Explanation
If you say you won't be kept down by the man, you are saying that you won't let the man subjugate you. To subjugate is to repress someone, or to make them subservient to you. In subjugate you see the word subject. In this word, it's not talking about the subject of a sentence, rather it's talking about the kind of subjects that Kings have serving them. Subjugate is to reduce someone's status to that of a subject. It's a royal demotion, often brought by force or intimidation.
Vocabulary lists containing subjugate
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In 1876 President Ulysses S. Grant ordered the Army to subjugate the traditionals.
From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 31, 2025
As he told the court that Combs had used his fame and power to "subjugate" his victims, the music mogul did not look up, remaining expressionless for the judge's 20-minute speech.
From BBC • Oct. 3, 2025
The energy transition, activists say, must serve the island, not subjugate it.
From Salon • Nov. 23, 2024
“I think it’s the co-optation of religious practices by white supremacists to actually subjugate Black, queer, and trans folk,” Abram said.
From Seattle Times • Oct. 12, 2023
They were going to subjugate all of the Far East.
From "Unbroken" by Laura Hillenbrand
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
