subdue

[suhb-doo, -dyoo]

verb (used with object)

subdued, subduing 

1. to conquer and bring into subjection.

   Rome subdued Gaul.

   Synonyms: vanquish, subjugate

2. to overpower by superior force; overcome.

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

   Synonyms: suppress, discipline, break, tame

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

   Synonyms: suppress
   Antonyms: arouse, awaken

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: intensify

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

subdue

/ səbˈdjuː /

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

Other Word Forms

• subdual noun
• subduable adjective
• subduably adverb
• subduableness noun
• subduer noun
• subduingly adverb
• presubdue verb (used with object)
• unsubduable adjective

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of subdue¹

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

Synonym Study

See defeat.

Example Sentences

One of the 1939 film’s production designers, Jack Martin Smith, said that his instructions were to make Oz “ethereal” and “subdued.”

From Los Angeles Times

Gauff, 21, came into her home Grand Slam clouded by uncertainty in her game and it showed in a subdued performance.

From BBC

Officers eventually subdued him with a stun gun, according to a Long Beach police department spokeswoman.

From Los Angeles Times

When she won only two of the opening 13 points, it felt like an ominous sign of things to come and led to a subdued atmosphere on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

From BBC

Last month, Keurig Dr Pepper executives told investors they expected growth in its coffee business to remain "subdued" this year, in part citing the hit from tariffs in the US, its most important market.

From BBC

Related Words

• conquer 
• crush 
• extinguish 
• humble 
• overcome 
• overpower 
• quell 
• repress 
• restrain 
• suppress 
• tame 
• temper