the colonial _________ of the country was by way of brute military force.
debase, insidious, or subjugation
The correct word to complete the sentence would be "subjugation."
The colonial subjugation of the country was by way of brute military force.
The colonial subjugation of the country was by way of brute military force.
In order to determine the correct word to fill in the blank, let's look at the context given: "the colonial _________ of the country was by way of brute military force."
To determine the appropriate word, we need to consider the meaning of each option and how it fits within the sentence.
The first option is "debase," which means to reduce the quality, value, or dignity of something. However, it does not fit well in the context of the sentence. Colonial debasement would suggest a reduction in quality or dignity, rather than the use of brute military force.
The second option is "insidious," which means proceeding in a gradual, subtle, or harmful manner. While this word does suggest a covert or hidden approach, it is not suitable in this context because brute military force is not characterized by being subtle or gradual.
The third option is "subjugation," which means bringing someone or something under complete control or dominance, often by force. In the context of the sentence, this word fits well as it describes the method of colonial rule by using brute military force to establish control over the country.
Therefore, the correct word to fill in the blank is "subjugation."