domination
Rule over others
Domination is control or power over others.
A country achieves domination over a region through military conquest or economic leverage.
A team's domination of a sport means consistent, overwhelming superiority.
In BDSM, domination refers to the role of exercising control over a submissive partner: She's into domination.
To seek world domination is to aim for global control—often used hyperbolically or in fiction.
Oppressive, absolute governance
- dictatorshipUnchecked single-ruler government
- despotismAbsolute one-person rule
- authoritarianismConcentrated, unchecked governmental power
- totalitarianismState controls everything absolutely
autocracy · oligarchy · fascism · oppression · repression · subjugation · colonialism · imperialism
Higher rank or quality
- ascendancyDominant power or influence
- preeminenceSuperior status above others
- primacyCondition of being foremost
- sovereigntySupreme independent authority
hegemony · paramountcy · transcendence · invincibility · supremacy · overlordship · imperium · alpha
Authoritative instruction given
- authorityPower to enforce obedience
- governanceHow authority is exercised
- oversightSupervision or inadvertent omission
- managementOrganizing and directing resources
regulation · administration · supervision · coordination · direction · enforcement · restraint · containment
Underhanded control of others
- coercionPressured compliance through threats
- intimidationDeliberate fear-inducing pressure
- pressureForce upon contact
- leverageBorrowed capital for amplified returns
persuasion · conditioning · propaganda · indoctrination · brainwashing · strongarming · browbeating · bullying
Defeating an opponent
- triumphResounding, celebrated victory
- subjugationForcing into submission
- vanquishingDefeating completely in battle
- defeatVictory over another
overthrow · annexation · occupation · colonization · submission · surrender · capitulation · enslavement
tyranny
Oppressive, absolute governance
- dictatorshipUnchecked single-ruler government
- despotismAbsolute one-person rule
- authoritarianismConcentrated, unchecked governmental power
totalitarianism · autocracy · oligarchy · fascism · oppression · repression · subjugation · colonialism · imperialism · regime
superiority
Higher rank or quality
- ascendancyDominant power or influence
- preeminenceSuperior status above others
- primacyCondition of being foremost
sovereignty · hegemony · paramountcy · transcendence · invincibility · supremacy · overlordship · imperium · alpha · apex
command
Authoritative instruction given
- authorityPower to enforce obedience
- governanceHow authority is exercised
- oversightSupervision or inadvertent omission
management · regulation · administration · supervision · coordination · direction · enforcement · restraint · containment · constraint
manipulation
Underhanded control of others
- coercionPressured compliance through threats
- intimidationDeliberate fear-inducing pressure
- pressureForce upon contact
leverage · persuasion · conditioning · propaganda · indoctrination · brainwashing · strongarming · browbeating · bullying · arm-twisting
victory
Defeating an opponent
- triumphResounding, celebrated victory
- subjugationForcing into submission
- vanquishingDefeating completely in battle
defeat · overthrow · annexation · occupation · colonization · submission · surrender · capitulation · enslavement · vassalage
championship
Competition for top rank
standings · leaderboard · undefeated · shutout · rout · blowout · landslide · knockout · checkmate
- victorieschampionship, trophy, gold medal, first place, cup
- imperialismempire building, colonization, imperial expansion, British Empire, colonies
- coercionduress, coercing, compelling, threat, forcing
- oppressionoppression, tyranny, racism, repression, secret police
- Beatdownsbeatdown, drubbing, thrashing, trouncing, blowout
- competitioncompete, competitor, contender, winner, sports
dominationsubmission
Yielding to another's will
surrender · subjection · capitulation · powerlessness · servitude
dominationliberation
Release from constraint
freedom · emancipation · independence · autonomy · self-determination
dominationdemocracy
Rule by the people
egalitarianism · equality · anarchy · self-rule · republicanism
- world dominationComplete control of Earth
- total dominationComplete control over everything
- foreign domination