DOMINION Synonyms: 54 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

dominion

noun

də-ˈmi-nyən

Definition of dominion

as in domination

controlling power or influence over others in the Bible, man is given dominion over all the animals

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in power

the right or means to command or control others was granted dominion over the household servants

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 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 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 Crushing injuries to Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson symbolically marked the end of Golden State’s dominion and the beginning of the post-dynasty NBA. — Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 7 June 2026 That myth has been debunked numerous times, including as part of Fox News' 2023 $787 million settlement with voting machine company Dominion, but Berntsen, a former CIA operative, has been pushing it for years. — Miles Parks, NPR, 16 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for dominion

Recent Examples of Synonyms for dominion

Noun

However, when the monsters become bent on world domination, the Minions must band together to defeat the creations gone awry.

— Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
Being top dog on the local council, however, is not the same as world domination.

— Richard Edwards, Space.com, 2 July 2026

Definition of domination

Noun

Junior Caminero has already done some things no Rays players had ever accomplished, such as extending his sizzling power show on Friday to include hitting 10 home runs over a 10-game span.

— Marc Topkin, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 July 2026
Plus, the power port includes three electrical outlets and three USB ports for powering appliances, speakers, and other devices.

— Toni Sutton, PEOPLE, 5 July 2026

Definition of power

Noun

The score might not suggest dominance, but Colombia controlled the game from the outset and held possession for nearly two-thirds of the match.

— Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 4 July 2026
Even casual soccer fans know about Lionel Messi and his dominance (six goals already).

— David Troy OutKick, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026

Definition of dominance

Noun

Steer clear of puddles - Driving into puddles or low areas of rainwater can cause vehicles to hydroplane or skid out of control.

— KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT, Kansas City Star, 4 July 2026
With Australia closing in on a winner in regulation with its young attack, Egypt settled in over the final 20 minutes or so to regain control of possession and find the more consistent threats on goal.

— Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 July 2026

Definition of control

Noun

Hezbollah denounces the deal as a threat to Lebanese sovereignty, while Israeli leaders vow not to cede ‘a millimeter’ until the group is fully disarmed.

— Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2026
Hernandez frames message sovereignty as the answer to a question every leader needs to sit with.

— Nell Derick Debevoise Dewey, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026

Definition of sovereignty

Noun

In a real world sense of course that can’t possibly be true, but the world view of the Puritan religious leaders who founded the Connecticut River Colony in the 1630s still held sway in the late 18th century.

— Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 28 June 2026
Roberta Smith, the co-chief art critic of the New York Times, and Jerry Saltz, the art critic of New York magazine, are writers of sway, elegance, legend.

— Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 27 June 2026

Definition of sway

Noun

Lawmakers continually warn China’s efforts are threatening to eclipse the United States’ technological supremacy in space.

— Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 30 June 2026
Long story short, the new Free tent jumps right into the same minimal weight lane as other those other new ultralight freestanding tents, ready to battle it out for backcountry supremacy.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 28 June 2026

Definition of supremacy

Noun

The last time Harry and Meghan were in the United Kingdom together was in September 2022 for the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, which marked the end of the monarch's 70-year reign.

— Anika Reed, USA Today, 4 July 2026
The winner of the tournament will begin her first reign as Knockouts TV champion.

— Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2026

Definition of reign

Browse Nearby Words

dominies

dominion

dominions

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Dominion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dominion. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of dominion

noun

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on dominion

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

gambol

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Popular in Wordplay

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes