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Verbs of Power Relations - Verbs for Exercising Power

Here you will learn some English verbs referring to exercising power such as "control", "rule", and "enslave".

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Categorized English Verbs Denoting Power Relations
to control

to have power over a person, company, country, etc. and to decide how things should be done

Ex: The CEO sought to control the company's strategic direction. 
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to rule
to rule
[Verb]

to control and be in charge of a country

Ex: The monarch ruled the kingdom with absolute authority. 
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to reign
to reign
[Verb]

to have control and authority over a place, like a country

Ex: The king reigned over the kingdom for decades, establishing a prosperous era. 
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to govern
to govern
[Verb]

to officially have the control and authority to rule over a country and manage its affairs

Ex: Elected leaders govern the nation, making decisions for the welfare of its citizens. 
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to tyrannize

to act with excessive, unfair authority or harshness

Ex: For years, the governor had tyrannized over the people, making arbitrary decisions. 
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to crown
to crown
[Verb]

to place a crown on someone's head in a ceremony so that person officially becomes a king or queen

Ex: In the elaborate coronation ceremony, the Archbishop will crown the new monarch. 
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to impose
to impose
[Verb]

to force someone to do what they do not want

Ex: The authoritarian government tried to impose strict regulations on freedom of speech. 
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to dominate

to have the power to completely or partially control someone or something

Ex: In the competitive business world, companies strive to dominate their market. 
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to enforce

to make individuals to behave in a particular way

Ex: The company implemented new policies to enforce ethical behavior in the workplace. 
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to colonize

to establish control over an area or people, often by settling and exploiting it

Ex: European powers colonized large parts of Africa in the 19th century. 
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to overrun

to invade or overwhelm with a large number, surpassing defenses

Ex: The enemy forces attempted to overrun the border, catching the defenders off guard. 
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to take over

to begin to be in charge of something, often previously managed by someone else

Ex: He hopes to take over the leadership role and guide the team to success. 
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to conquer

to gain control of a place or people using armed forces

Ex: The army worked strategically to conquer the enemy's territory. 
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to subjugate

to gain control and governance over a person, group, or territory, often through conquest or forceful means

Ex: The emperor sought to subjugate neighboring lands, expanding his empire through conquest and control 
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to enslave

to force someone into a condition of forced labor or work

Ex: Historical societies sometimes enslaved individuals captured in battle. 
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to usurp
to usurp
[Verb]

to wrongly take someone else's position, power, or right

Ex: In many tales, evil stepmothers attempt to usurp the rightful place of the princess. 
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to quell
to quell
[Verb]

to forcefully stop or crush something

Ex: The military was called in to quell the uprising and restore order. 
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to vote
to vote
[Verb]

to show which candidate one wants to win in an election or which plan one supports, by marking a piece of paper, raising one's hand, etc.

Ex: Citizens regularly vote in elections to choose their representatives. 
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to elect
to elect
[Verb]

to choose a person for a specific job, particularly a political one, by voting

Ex: Citizens will elect a new mayor in the upcoming municipal elections. 
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to ballot
to ballot
[Verb]

to formally vote or make a choice, especially in elections, by marking a paper

Ex: During the election, citizens will ballot for their preferred candidates. 
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to poll
to poll
[Verb]

to ask people specific questions to gather their opinions or preferences on a particular subject

Ex: The political candidate decided to poll potential voters to understand their concerns. 
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to nominate

to assign or designate someone to a particular position or responsibility

Ex: The committee decided to nominate a candidate for the prestigious award. 
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to campaign

to promote or advertise something, typically in a sustained and organized way

Ex: The company decided to campaign its new product through various marketing channels. 
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to lobby
to lobby
[Verb]

to make an attempt to persuade politicians to agree or disagree with a law being made or changed

Ex: The environmental group decided to lobby lawmakers for stricter regulations on carbon emissions. 
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to crusade

to passionately campaign or fight, often with a religious or moral purpose

Ex: The religious leader inspired followers to crusade against perceived heresies. 
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to petition

to write and submit an official written document

Ex: Last year, the citizens petitioned the local government to improve public transportation. 
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to democratize

to make a system more open and fair, giving everyone a chance and involving more people

Ex: The nation decided to democratize its political system, allowing for free and fair elections. 
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