subdue

1 of 2

verb

sub·​due səb-ˈdü How to pronounce subdue (audio)
-ˈdyü
subdued; subduing
Synonyms of subdue

transitive verb

1
: to conquer and bring into subjection : vanquish
2
: to bring under control especially by an exertion of the will : curb
subdued my foolish fears
3
: to bring (land) under cultivation
4
: to reduce the intensity or degree of : tone down
subduer noun

subduer

2 of 2

noun

sub·​du·​er
səbˈd(y)üə(r), 
-du̇(ə)r, 
-du̇ə
plural -s
: one that subdues

Synonyms of subdue

Relevance

Verb

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Choose the Right Synonym for subdue

conquer, vanquish, defeat, subdue, reduce, overcome, overthrow mean to get the better of by force or strategy.

conquer implies gaining mastery of.

Caesar conquered Gaul

vanquish implies a complete overpowering.

vanquished the enemy and ended the war

defeat does not imply the finality or completeness of vanquish which it otherwise equals.

the Confederates defeated the Union forces at Manassas

subdue implies a defeating and suppression.

subdued the native tribes after years of fighting

reduce implies a forcing to capitulate or surrender.

the city was reduced after a month-long siege

overcome suggests getting the better of with difficulty or after hard struggle.

overcame a host of bureaucratic roadblocks

overthrow stresses the bringing down or destruction of existing power.

violently overthrew the old regime

Examples of subdue in a Sentence

Verb The troops were finally able to subdue the rebel forces after many days of fighting. He was injured while trying to subdue a violent drunk. She struggled to subdue her fears.
Recent Examples on the Web
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Verb
Seashells, pearls, and gold chrome look surprisingly subdued, thanks to shades of cream and white. — Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 2 July 2026 Both Sydney’s and Carmy’s reactions are subdued — neither knows how to process it. — Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 26 June 2026 Upon their return, most ended up in countries that were invaded and subdued by the German army. — Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 June 2026 In person, Huang subdues his ironic braggadocio with polite eye contact and rolling belly laughs at his own jokes. — Mariella Rudi, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for subdue

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English sodewen, subduen, from Anglo-French soduire, subdure to lead astray, overcome, arrest (influenced in form and meaning by Latin subdere to subject), from Latin subducere to withdraw, remove stealthily

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of subdue was in the 14th century

Rhymes for subdue

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Browse Nearby Words

subduction
subdue
subdued
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Subdue.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/subdue. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

subdue

verb
sub·​due səb-ˈd(y)ü How to pronounce subdue (audio)
subdued; subduing
1
: to overcome in battle
subdued the enemy
2
: to bring under control especially by willpower
subdued his fears
3
: to reduce the brightness or strength of : soften
tried to subdue the light
subduer noun

More from Merriam-Webster on subdue

Nglish: Translation of subdue for Spanish Speakers

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