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

How to use subdue in a sentence

The death of Daniel Prude, which occurred after he was physically subdued by RPD officers in March 2020, sparked protests throughout the city.
Police Investigation Underway After 9-Year-Old Girl Pepper Sprayed During Arrest in Rochester, New York|Josiah Bates|February 2, 2021|Time
“There’s a lot of sympathy for the cop in the field, trying to subdue somebody when that person is struggling and probably very strong and very capable of resisting,” Emery said.
Still Can’t Breathe|by Topher Sanders, ProPublica, and Yoav Gonen, THE CITY, video by Lucas Waldron, ProPublica|January 21, 2021|ProPublica
One Volta’s electric eel — able to subdue small fish with an 860-volt jolt — is scary enough.
Some electric eels coordinate attacks to zap their prey|Jonathan Lambert|January 14, 2021|Science News
The event was already scaled down and subdued by the coronavirus pandemic.
Today in D.C.: Headlines to start your Monday in D.C., Maryland and Virginia|Teddy Amenabar, Justin Wm. Moyer|January 11, 2021|Washington Post

A long struggle followed, during which the deputies used a Taser to subdue Gonzalez.
Restrictions on the South Texas Border Were Meant to Protect People From COVID-19. Then the Handcuffs Came Out.|by Vianna Davila and Ren Larson|December 19, 2020|ProPublica
Once he lunged at a man trying to rob a convenience store, subduing him with his bare hands.
Castro Street’s Hot Cop Is the Batman to Sexy Mug Shot Guy’s Joker|Itay Hod|July 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The second grammar class had been relieved from a recitation by this confab, and somehow Perry had a subduing influence.
The Soldier of the Valley|Nelson Lloyd
The account of this man's giant strength, the narrative of hisPg 114 exploits in subduing the wild bulls, are quite Homeric.
Frdric Mistral|Charles Alfred Downer
The dominion which England claimed over Ireland, demanded more immediately their efforts for subduing that country.
The History of England in Three Volumes, Vol.I., Part E.|David Hume
This last sally had a subduing effect on the gig's company; they turned their faces away and became absorbed in the view ahead.
Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 159, December 8, 1920|Various
He had succeeded so well in subduing his flesh that at last it was on the point of separating itself entirely from the spirit.
Robert Annys: Poor Priest|Annie Nathan Meyer

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

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Origin of subdue

synonym study for subdue

OTHER WORDS FROM 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