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View synonyms for

subdue

[ suhb-doo, -dyoo ]

verb (used with object)

subdued, subduing.
  1. to conquer and bring into subjection:

    Rome subdued Gaul.

    Synonyms: ,

  2. to overpower by superior force; overcome.
  3. to bring under mental or emotional control, as by persuasion or intimidation; render submissive.

    Synonyms: , , ,

  4. to repress (feelings, impulses, etc.).

    Synonyms:

    Antonyms: ,

  5. to bring (land) under cultivation:

    to subdue the wilderness.

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

    Antonyms:

  7. to allay (inflammation, infection, etc.).


subdue

/ əˈː /

verb

  1. to establish ascendancy over by force
  2. to overcome and bring under control, as by intimidation or persuasion
  3. to hold in check or repress (feelings, emotions, etc)
  4. to render less intense or less conspicuous
“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
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Derived Forms

  • ܲˈܲ, noun
  • ܲˈܲ, adjective
  • ܲˈܲ, adverb
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Other Word Forms

  • ܲ·a· adjective
  • ܲ·a··ness noun
  • ܲ·a· adverb
  • ܲ·İ noun
  • ܲ·iԲ· adverb
  • ȴܲ·ܱ verb (used with object) presubdued presubduing
  • unܲ·a· adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of subdue1

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 ܲū “to withdraw”; meaning in English (and Anglo-French ) from Latin subdere “to place beneath, subdue”; subduct
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Word History and Origins

Origin of subdue1

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

See defeat.
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

With Ramsey standing at just over 5 feet tall, Ellie uses her size as an asset — combining nimbleness and reckless overconfidence to subdue much larger foes, people and infected alike.

From

The shootings occurred despite policies that prioritize deescalation techniques and the use of “less-lethal” alternatives, such as bean bag rounds meant to subdue people without resorting to firearms.

From

Mere seconds into the arrest, however, his handler failed to contain and subdue his K-9 partner.

From

Canada denounced Trump’s executive order but Mexico is taking a more subdued approach.

From

They probably also care about stability on the world stage — a subdued China, a relatively calm Middle East and a long-overdue peace deal to end the bloodshed in Eastern Europe.

From

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subduction zonesubdued