Definition of dominion

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun dominion contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of dominion are authority, command, control, jurisdiction, power, and sway. While all these words mean "the right to govern or rule or determine," dominion stresses sovereign power or supreme authority.

given dominion over all the animals

When might authority be a better fit than dominion?

While the synonyms authority and dominion are close in meaning, authority implies power for a specific purpose within specified limits.

granted the authority to manage her estate

When could command be used to replace dominion?

The words command and dominion are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, command implies the power to make arbitrary decisions and compel obedience.

the army officer in command

When can control be used instead of dominion?

Although the words control and dominion have much in common, control stresses the power to direct and restrain.

you are responsible for the students under your control

Where would jurisdiction be a reasonable alternative to dominion?

In some situations, the words jurisdiction and dominion are roughly equivalent. However, jurisdiction applies to official power exercised within prescribed limits.

the bureau having jurisdiction over parks

When is power a more appropriate choice than dominion?

The words power and dominion can be used in similar contexts, but power implies possession of ability to wield force, authority, or influence.

the power to mold public opinion

When would sway be a good substitute for dominion?

The synonyms sway and dominion are sometimes interchangeable, but sway suggests the extent of exercised power or influence.

the empire extended its sway over the region

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 dominion Historical roots As Roberts’ majority opinion demonstrates, the definition of citizenship that Americans inherited from Britain and the common law included everyone born in a place where the king’s dominion extended. Noah Feldman, Mercury News, 7 July 2026 The show represents a milestone in American TV, when showrunners like Shonda Rhimes began to become famous names in and of themselves, and create whole dominions of TV shows on networks and streaming services. Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 29 June 2026 Freeman had accomplished more than protecting her daughter from Hannah Ashley’s blow and, with perseverance, succeeded in getting herself and Lizzie out from under the Ashleys’ dominion. New York Times, 22 June 2026 Italy has a colonial past, of course, and its government forces committed atrocities in areas under Italian dominion in East Africa between the 1880s and 1941. Kaitlyn Rabe, The Conversation, 16 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for dominion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dominion
Noun
  • The Duke commitment lived up to his Power 4 billing, rushing for 196 yards and six touchdowns and throwing for 163 yards and a score in a 57-21 domination of Colquitt County.
    Jack Leo, AJC.com, 22 Aug. 2026
  • State lawmakers can show that the domination of hyperscale AI data centers over our communities is not an inevitability.
    Jorge Aguilar, Baltimore Sun, 22 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • The park still doesn’t have power, internet or phone lines after Lala swept by last week, and many of its employees are still recovering from the storm.
    Tyler Ory, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2026
  • The events have all had a Trumpian flair, featuring appearances from his friends and the aim of showcasing spectacle, Americana and power.
    ABC News, ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • The Eagles rewarded his dominance by giving him a four-year, $152 million extension this summer.
    Mike Jones, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026
  • If Geely and its suppliers hit their 2027 pilot targets, the days of diesel dominance may finally be numbered.
    Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 21 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Organized crime operations from several cities, including Chicago, New York and Detroit, had established control of casinos up and down the Vegas Strip and devised schemes to skim percentages of the cash under the noses of state regulators.
    Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Republicans hope to pick up seven of Missouri’s eight congressional seats amid a bitter fight for control of Congress.
    Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 21 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • San Manuel Nation, a partner of the Dodgers for more than a decade, is actively fighting against prediction markets, believing their availability in California violates tribal sovereignty.
    Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 24 Aug. 2026
  • That lofty rhetoric will now meet reality, demonstrating how much economic pain a nation is willing to face to secure its political sovereignty.
    Sara Miller Llana, Christian Science Monitor, 24 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Softening rather than stiffening when moving through space requires embracing your body’s natural sway and tiny micro-movements, like an ankle wobbling or knee jiggling.
    Deborah Vankin, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2026
  • That’s given Betancourt tremendous sway in Venezuelan oil circles, the people said, in spite of years of investigations in Europe, the US and Venezuela over allegations of corruption, money laundering and tax fraud.
    Fabiola Zerpa, Fortune, 17 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Pixel is where Google introduced, promoted, and established its supremacy in mobile artificial intelligence, first supported by cloud computing and later bringing more functionality to be processed locally.
    Ewan Spence, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
  • DeRozan, a six-time All-Star, could help the Nuggets challenge the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder for Western Conference supremacy next season.
    Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • The zaobanchu during Qianlong’s reign comprised nearly one thousand artisans, who worked out of fear to serve the demands of the insatiable emperor who would sometimes dole out severe punishments, like taking away a year’s salary.
    Stephy Chung, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Aside from the Arsenal manager, only the reigns of Emery at Villa and Daniel Farke at Leeds have exceeded three years.
    Adam Crafton, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Dominion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dominion. Accessed 26 Aug. 2026.

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