subdue

[ suhb-doo, -dyoo ]

/ səbˈdu, -ˈdyu /

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See synonyms for: subdue / subdued / subdues / subduing 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.).

OTHER WORDS FOR subdue

1 subjugate, vanquish.

3 tame, break, discipline.

3, 4 suppress.

See synonyms for subdue on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR subdue

4 awaken, arouse.

6 intensify.

See antonyms for subdue on Thesaurus.com

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Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of subdue

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English so(b)duen, so(b)dewen, from unattested Anglo-French soduer “to overcome,” from Old French soduire “to deceive, seduce,” from Latin subdūcere “to withdraw”; meaning in English (and Anglo-French ) from Latin subdere “to place beneath, subdue”; see subduct

synonym study for subdue

1. See defeat.

OTHER WORDS FROM subdue

sub·du·a·ble, adjectivesub·du·a·ble·ness, nounsub·du·a·bly, adverbsub·du·er, noun

sub·du·ing·ly, adverbpre·sub·due, verb (used with object), pre·sub·dued, pre·sub·du·ing.un·sub·du·a·ble, adjective

Words nearby subdue

subdominant, subdual, subduct, subduction, subduction zone, subdue, subdued, subdural, subedit, subeditor, subemployment

How to use subdue in a sentence

Plus, in all three color options, one side is subdued, while the opposite is something fun.
The Gear Our Editors Loved in November|The Editors|December 4, 2020|Outside Online
That voice that sang alongside Patti LaBelle and Lauryn Hill, the one that gets critics to consistently call her “underrated,” was subdued as she strained to breathe.
This couple hit their stride after years of hard work. Then covid-19 hit them.|Petula Dvorak|December 3, 2020|Washington Post
A day later in his cell, video footage shows Sheriff’s deputies tried to subdue a visibly disturbed Silva to take him for a medical evaluation.
Obscure Sheriff’s Review Board Gets New Scrutiny in Court|Ashly McGlone|December 3, 2020|Voice of San Diego
Having recovered from a virus-induced downturn, the $220 billion Hong Kong–listed services company is now contending with the potentially larger threat of government regulation, which Beijing proposed last month to subdue China’s runaway tech giants.
China’s ‘Amazon of services’ says it welcomes Beijing’s stricter oversight|eamonbarrett|December 1, 2020|Fortune

Given all that’s gone on this year, it’s worth asking whether police officers and the communities they serve might be better off if cops had something other than guns to subdue unruly suspects.
A New Vision for America|Daniel Malloy|November 29, 2020|Ozy
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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
Malcolm had selected it as a training-ground that evening, because he meant to weary and subdue his too highly spirited charger.
The Red Year|Louis Tracy
And unless thou speedily prevent them, they will do greater things than these, and thou shalt not be able to subdue them.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version|Various
"It's an awfu' gran' book, Rob," she would say after a time, while she strove to subdue the sobs in her breast.
The Underworld|James C. Welsh
The Romans took two hundred years to subdue it, and the Moors never obtained a footing there.
Spanish Life in Town and Country|L. Higgin and Eugne E. Street
Forthwith did Earl Hakon subdue all the land and that winter abode he in Throndhjem.
The Sagas of Olaf Tryggvason and of Harald The Tyrant (Harald Haardraade)|Snorri Sturluson

British Dictionary definitions for subdue

subdue

/ (səbˈdjuː) /

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 forms of subdue

subduable, 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

subdue

OTHER WORDS FOR subdue

OPPOSITES FOR subdue

Origin of subdue

synonym study for subdue

OTHER WORDS FROM subdue

Words nearby subdue

Words related to subdue

How to use subdue in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for subdue

Derived forms of subdue

Word Origin for subdue