subdue

[suhb-doo, -dyoo]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR subdue ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), sub·dued, sub·du·ing.

to conquer and bring into subjection: Rome subdued Gaul.

to overpower by superior force; overcome.

to bring under mental or emotional control, as by persuasion or intimidation; render submissive.

to repress (feelings, impulses, etc.).

to bring (land) under cultivation: to subdue the wilderness.

to reduce the intensity, force, or vividness of (sound, light, color, etc.); tone down; soften.

to allay (inflammation, infection, etc.).

Origin of subdue

1350–1400; Middle English so(b)duen, so(b)dewen < Anglo-French *soduer to overcome, Old French soduire to deceive, seduce < Latin subdūcere to withdraw (see subduct); meaning in E (and Anglo-French) < Latin subdere to place beneath, subdue

Related formssub·du·a·ble, adjectivesub·du·a·ble·ness, nounsub·du·a·bly, adverbsub·du·er, nounsub·du·ing·ly, adverbpre·sub·due, verb (used with object), pre·sub·dued, pre·sub·du·ing.un·sub·du·a·ble, adjective

Synonyms for subdue

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR subdue ON THESAURUS.COM

1. subjugate, vanquish. 3. tame, break, discipline. 3, 4. suppress.

Synonym study

1. See defeat.

Antonyms for subdue

4. awaken, arouse. 6. intensify.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for subdue

crush, suppress, humble, tame, overpower, quell, restrain, conquer, extinguish, repress, temper, overcome, control, discipline, quench, drop, reduce, quiet, soften, break

Examples from the Web for subdue

Contemporary Examples of subdue

It took a blow to the head from Clark and the assistance of three deputies to subdue her.
Dr. King Goes to Hollywood: The Flawed History of ‘Selma’
Gary May
January 2, 2015
The younger brother would try everything in his power from a distance to subdue the roaring flames of passion.
Decoding Vincent Van Gogh’s Tempestuous, Fragile Mind
Nick Mafi
December 7, 2014
At least one Metropolitan Police officer was injured during the struggle to subdue the man.
London Woman Beheaded by Machete-Wielding 'Madman'
Nico Hines
September 4, 2014
A brief struggle ensues as several officers attempt to subdue a squirming Grant, his hands behind his back.
‘Fruitvale Station,’ Sundance’s Hottest Film, Comes to Theaters
Marlow Stern
January 22, 2013
Yet it is these very anarchic groups that the Second Amendment was incorporated to subdue.
Gun-Control Foes Misunderstand the Intent of the Second Amendment
Jack Schwartz
December 18, 2012

Historical Examples of subdue

Oh, strong, strong are the ties of flesh, and hard it is to subdue the spirit!
The White Company
Arthur Conan Doyle
She looked at him with a nervous repugnance to his appearance, which she tried to subdue.
The Bacillus of Beauty
Harriet Stark
In vain the Woman Perfect struggled to subdue her mirth to penitence.
The Bacillus of Beauty
Harriet Stark
Every attempt to subdue or extirpate them, has proved abortive.
Female Scripture Biographies, Vol. I
Francis Augustus Cox
He was as utterly unable to prevent or subdue this fear, as he was to prevent his breathing.
The Channings
Mrs. Henry Wood

British Dictionary definitions for subdue

subdue

verb -dues, -duing or -dued (tr)

to establish ascendancy over by force

to overcome and bring under control, as by intimidation or persuasion

to hold in check or repress (feelings, emotions, etc)

to render less intense or less conspicuous

Derived Formssubduable, adjectivesubduably, adverbsubdual, noun

Word Origin for subdue

C14 sobdue, from Old French soduire to mislead, from Latin subdūcere to remove; English sense influenced by Latin subdere to subject

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for subdue

late 14c., "to conquer," from Old French souduire "deceive, seduce," from Latin subducere "draw, lead away, withdraw" (see subduce). The sense seems to have been taken in Anglo-French from Latin subdere. Subduct in the sense of "subtract" is from 1570s. Related: Subdued; subduing.