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subdue Definition

sub·due (-do̵̅o̅′, -dyo̵̅o̅′)

transitive verb -·dued′, -·du′·ing

  1. to bring into subjection; conquer; vanquish
  2. to overcome, as by persuasion or training; control
  3. to make less intense; reduce; diminish; soften; allay
  4. to repress (emotions, passions, etc.)
  5. to bring (land) under cultivation

Etymology: ME subdewen (altered in sense and form by assoc. with L subdere, to put under, subject) < OFr soduire, to withdraw, seduce < L subducere: see subduce

subdue Related Forms

sub·du′·able adjective sub·du′al noun sub·du′er noun

subdue Synonyms

subdue

v.

  1. To vanquish

    conquer, overcome, subjugate; see defeat 1, 2.

  2. To bring under control

    put down, quash, tame, suppress; see command 2, restrain 1.

  3. To tone down

    soften, tone down, moderate, repress; see quiet 1. See syn. study at defeat.

subdue Usage Examples

Subject

force: The nation which has declared itself your enemy must be subdued by force of arms and forced to submit to your way of thinking.

Object

  • defilement: Therefore, they tried to find a way to temporarily subdue defilements.
  • Saxon: He subdued the Saxons after about 30 years of war and forced them to accept Christianity.
  • tribe: They were unable, however, to subdue the fierce tribes in the north.
  • rebellion: The government has sent thousands of troops to subdue the rebellion in the enclave, which has no border with the rest of Angola.
  • enemy: However the American way is to use massive force to subdue the enemy then attack the remnants.
  • lighting: Set in the dark Assembly Rooms, with subdued lighting, the Grandmothers met together for the first time.

Preposition: at

time: I've been involved in football for a few years and games on the 1st January can be a little subdued at times.

Adjective complement

due: However, domestic consumption and investment remained subdued due to near record unemployment and uncertainty about the future.

Modifying Another Word

  • strangely: There was a strangely subdued atmosphere around the Show Court.
  • unusually: In the 54th minute Adie Orr came on to replace Dave Swarbrick who had been unusually subdued.
  • somewhat: The second of these tunes even managed to get the somewhat subdued crowd screaming along with the chorus.
  • temporarily: No-one could have put it better and the Bristol fans were temporarily subdued as they watched the UWE fans chant at their victorious rowers.
  • surprisingly: However, despite an encouraging performance from his players, Magpies manager Carl Taylor seemed surprisingly subdued.
  • relatively: Despite some reports of improving retail sales volumes, consumer credit remains relatively subdued.

Used with why or when

when: Although an attractive flower its coloring Is somewhat subdued when compared with the brilliant cultivated tulips in our gardens.

Preposition: in

tone: The walls above the dado were subdued in tone, relieved by family portraits.

Preposition: with

hint: The nose was very subdued with some vague hints of a grassy or floral scent.

Preposition: for

time: The long and laborious study demanded by the sculptor's profession subdued for a long time Sarrasine's impetuous temperament and unruly genius.

Preposition: by

force: The nation which has declared itself your enemy must be subdued by force of arms and forced to submit to your way of thinking.