Subjugate in a Sentence: Meaning, Examples & Practice

Subjugate means to bring a person or group under complete control, usually by force or conquest. To use subjugate in a sentence, name both the controller and the controlled: “The empire subjugated the coastal kingdoms within a decade.” The verb is transitive and formal, and it belongs to history, politics and metaphor.

Subjugate at a glance

• Subjugate is a transitive verb meaning to bring under complete control.
• Its forms are subjugates, subjugated, subjugating and the noun subjugation.
• The usual subjects are empires, regimes, armies, rulers and, figuratively, fear.
• Subjugate belongs to formal historical and political writing, not casual speech.
• The commonest error is using it for a mild situation that subdue would fit.

What does subjugate mean?

Subjugate is a transitive verb meaning to conquer and keep under complete control. The Cambridge entry for subjugate records the conquer sense and the figurative sense of dominating a person or group. The word carries two ideas at once: the use of force and the lasting state of subjection that follows. Where the meaning is simply to defeat an enemy once, conquer is the narrower word, because subjugate adds control over time. The table separates the senses.

One honest limitation belongs here. Subjugate is a heavy, accusing word. It should not describe ordinary discipline, such as a teacher managing a lively class, because it implies permanent domination of people who have lost their freedom. When a plainer word will do, use it. Where the sense is placing one thing below another rather than crushing it, subordinate is the everyday verb, and when the object is an uprising rather than a people, suppress is the more precise choice.

How do you use subjugate in a sentence?

Subjugate always takes an object, and the object is the person, group or place left under control. The person or thing doing the controlling is the subject. The passive is common in history writing, where the people being controlled matter more than the conqueror.

The practitioner test is simple: if the object is a person or group that has lost control of its own choices, subjugate fits; if the object is a crowd, an animal or a fire being quieted, use subdue instead.

Subjugate in a sentence: examples across contexts

Subjugate keeps the same force wherever it appears, but the object shifts from whole nations to rival factions to private feelings. The nine sentences below move from a history essay to a sports report.

Only the sports and personal sentences use subjugate without a political subject, and both still carry the idea of one side losing its freedom to act.

Subjugate vs subdue

Subjugate and subdue both mean bring under control, but they differ in scope and in how long the control lasts. Subjugate implies conquest and lasting subjection of people; subdue means to quiet or tame something into order, often briefly. The table sets out the contrast.

Verdict: choose subjugate for conquest and lasting control over people, subdue for calming or taming, and the related oppress when the emphasis falls on cruelty rather than control.

Word forms and grammar of subjugate

Subjugate inflects regularly, and its noun subjugation is the form historians use most. The table also lists the adjective and the rarer derived nouns.

The adjective shares its spelling with the past participle, and the existing page on subjugated shows how the two are told apart by position in the sentence.

Common mistakes with subjugate

• Incorrect: The teacher subjugated the noisy class. Correct: The teacher subdued the noisy class. Rule: Subjugate implies lasting domination of people, far too strong for a classroom.
• Incorrect: He was subjugate to the old rules. Correct: He was subject to the old rules. Rule: Subjugate is a verb, and the adjective you want here is subject or subjugated.
• Incorrect: The army subjugated. Correct: The army subjugated the border towns. Rule: Subjugate is transitive, so it cannot stand without an object.
• Incorrect: The medicine subjugated the pain. Correct: The medicine subdued the pain. Rule: Subdue quiets things and sensations; subjugate controls people and groups.
• Incorrect: They subjugated with the new schedule. Correct: They complied with the new schedule. Rule: Subjugate never takes with; it takes a direct object.
• Incorrect: The region enjoyed its subjugation. Correct: The region suffered subjugation for a century. Rule: Subjugation is imposed control and takes a negative tone.

Practice using subjugate

Work through the six items, then read the reasons rather than only the answers.

1. Fill the gap: The warlord ______ three neighbouring provinces.
2. Choose the better word: The firefighter (subjugated / subdued) the blaze before dawn.
3. Correct the error: The new rules subjugate to everyone.
4. Build a sentence: use be subjugated by about a once-independent island.
5. Spot the register: which belongs in a history textbook — the empire subjugated the coast, or the empire totally bossed the coast?
6. Rewrite with the noun: The regime subjugated the press for years. Use subjugation instead.

Answers

1. subjugated — the warlord brought the provinces under lasting control.
2. subdued — a fire is quieted, not politically dominated.
3. The new rules apply to everyone — subjugate needs a direct object and cannot take to.
4. Model answer: The island was subjugated by a distant empire for sixty years.
5. The empire subjugated the coast — a textbook avoids the casual to totally boss.
6. The subjugation of the press lasted for years — the noun names the imposed state and takes of.

The bottom line

Use subjugate in a sentence when one person, power or force brings people or groups under complete and lasting control, and always give the verb an object. Two nuances decide most sentences: subjugate implies conquest and permanent subjection, unlike the lighter subdue, and it is far too heavy for ordinary discipline. Reserve it for history, politics and deliberate metaphor.

Frequently asked questions about subjugate

Is subjugate always used about war?

Not always, but its strongest and oldest use is conquest. An empire subjugates a neighbouring people, and a regime subjugates a region it controls. Outside politics the verb can describe dominating a rival or an institution, as in the manager subjugated the whole department, but the suggestion of force remains.

What is the noun form of subjugate?

The noun is subjugation, meaning the state of being brought under control. It is uncountable in this sense, as in centuries of subjugation. The related adjective is subjugated, as in a subjugated people, and the rare noun subjugator names the one who does it. Most writers prefer the verb or the adjective.

Can subjugate be used figuratively?

Yes. Alongside its political sense, subjugate can describe one person or group dominating another, as in a chair subjugating the committee to her own plan. It can even describe silencing a feeling, as in he subjugated his doubts. These figurative uses keep the idea of complete control, so they still sound forceful rather than mild.

Is subjugate a formal word?

Subjugate belongs to formal writing. Historians, journalists and political analysts use it when they describe conquest and lasting control. In everyday speech people say take over or bring under control instead, and a plain phrase usually communicates the same idea without the heavy, historical tone of subjugate.

Have you ever heard of the word “subjugate”? It refers to the act of bringing someone or something under one’s control or dominion, often through force or oppression.

In other words, when one seeks to subjugate another, they are aiming to assert their authority or dominance over them, suppressing their freedom or rights in the process.

7 Examples Of Subjugate Used In a Sentence For Kids

1. The king wanted to subjugate the dragons.
2. The evil witch tried to subjugate the villagers.
3. The brave knight fought to subjugate the enemy army.
4. The monster wanted to subjugate the entire kingdom.
5. The princess used magic to subjugate the forest creatures.
6. The hero’s mission was to subjugate the dark forces.
7. The wizard cast a spell to subjugate the curse.

14 Sentences with Subjugate Examples

• Students should never allow their studies to subjugate their mental well-being.
• It is important to find a balance between academics and extracurricular activities, rather than letting one subjugate the other.
• Peer pressure can subjugate students into making decisions they are not comfortable with.
• Procrastination can subjugate students to last-minute panic and stress.
• Group dynamics should be inclusive and not subjugate any member’s opinions or contributions.
• It is important for students to speak up against any form of discrimination that seeks to subjugate certain groups.
• A healthy work-life balance is necessary to prevent work from subjugating personal life.
• Overly competitive environments can subjugate collaboration and camaraderie among students.
• It is vital for students to resist any attempts to subjugate their individuality or autonomy.
• In a diverse campus community, it is crucial to embrace different perspectives and not subjugate any based on preconceived notions.
• Social media can sometimes subjugate students into feeling inadequate or comparing themselves to unrealistic standards.
• Students should advocate for policies that promote equality and do not subjugate marginalized communities.
• Mental health awareness campaigns seek to empower students and prevent any stigma that might subjugate seeking help.
• Maintaining open communication with professors can prevent misunderstandings that could subjugate academic progress.

How To Use Subjugate in Sentences?

Subjugate means to bring someone or something under domination or control, typically by using force. Here are some tips on how to use this word in a sentence:

• When talking about ancient history, you can say, “The Roman Empire sought to subjugate many different regions through military conquest.”
• In a discussion about relationships, you might mention, “It is not healthy for one partner to try to subjugate the other; instead, both individuals should be treated with respect and equality.”
• If discussing a fictional story, you could write, “The evil king’s plan was to subjugate all the inhabitants of the kingdom and rule with an iron fist.”
• When describing a historical event where one group was oppressed by another, you can say, “The colonizers used their power to subjugate the indigenous population and exploit their resources.”
• In a political context, you could use the word in a sentence like, “The dictator’s goal was to subjugate the citizens and eliminate any form of dissent.”

Remember, subjugate is a strong word that implies a loss of freedom or autonomy. Use it carefully and make sure it accurately reflects the situation you are discussing.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the use of sentences with the word “subjugate” emphasizes the act of subjecting or controlling someone or something in a forceful or oppressive manner. These sentences illustrate power dynamics, domination, and oppression in various contexts, ranging from historical events to modern societal issues. Through these examples, the negative connotations of subjugation become clear, highlighting themes of injustice, inequality, and the abuse of authority.

By examining sentences with “subjugate,” one can grasp the implications of domination and control, shedding light on the need for meaningful dialogue, advocacy for equality, and the empowerment of marginalized groups. Understanding the impact of subjugation in language and society is crucial in fostering a more just and equitable world, where individuals are respected, valued, and free from oppressive forces.