Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner's English Dictionary - subjugate

(subjugates, subjugating, subjugated) 1. If someone subjugates a group of people, they take complete control of them, especially by defeating them in a war. (FORMAL) Their costly and futile attempt to subjugate the Afghans lasted just 10 years. VERB: V n • subjugation ...the brutal subjugation of native tribes. N-UNCOUNT: usu N of n 2. If your wishes or desires are subjugated to something, they are treated as less important than that thing. (FORMAL) After having been subjugated to ambition, your maternal instincts are at last starting to assert themselves. VERB: usu passive, be V-ed to n, also be V-ed