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Synonym Chooser

How does the verb subdue differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of subdue are conquer, defeat, overcome, overthrow, reduce, and vanquish. While all these words mean "to get the better of by force or strategy," subdue implies a defeating and suppression.

subdued the native tribes after years of fighting

When is conquer a more appropriate choice than subdue?

While the synonyms conquer and subdue are close in meaning, conquer implies gaining mastery of.

Caesar conquered Gaul

How do defeat and vanquish relate to one another, in the sense of subdue?

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

the Confederates defeated the Union forces at Manassas

When can overcome be used instead of subdue?

The words overcome and subdue are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, overcome suggests getting the better of with difficulty or after hard struggle.

overcame a host of bureaucratic roadblocks

Where would overthrow be a reasonable alternative to subdue?

Although the words overthrow and subdue have much in common, overthrow stresses the bringing down or destruction of existing power.

violently overthrew the old regime

In what contexts can reduce take the place of subdue?

While in some cases nearly identical to subdue, reduce implies a forcing to capitulate or surrender.

the city was reduced after a month-long siege

When would vanquish be a good substitute for subdue?

The words vanquish and subdue can be used in similar contexts, but vanquish implies a complete overpowering.

vanquished the enemy and ended the war

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of subdue That said, for now, despite elevated uncertainty and soft survey data, jobs data up to the month of April has remained robust and inflation subdued according to reports up to the month of March. Simon Moore, Forbes.com, 12 May 2025 Denver won Game 3 because Aaron Gordon, Michael Porter Jr. and Jamal Murray each scored at least 20 points, which went a long way toward subduing the struggles of Jokić. Tony Jones, New York Times, 12 May 2025 The color palettes are similarly subdued and sophisticated. Abby Wolner, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 May 2025 The spokesman could not say how many officers had been deployed, but livestreams on social media appeared to show between 50 and 100 officers struggling to subdue the students. Kerry Burke, New York Daily News, 8 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for subdue
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subdue
Verb
  • Yet amid the devastation, a few glimmers of hope remain—Palestine’s U-20 national women’s team recently won the West Asian Football Federation (WAFF) Championship, overcoming Jordan 4-2 in a penalty shootout in the final following a 1-1 draw.
    Samindra Kunti, Forbes.com, 18 May 2025
  • During a stretch in which the Twins are outscoring opponents 68-29, the team is receiving contributions from just about everyone on the roster while concurrently overcoming the mounting injuries.
    Dan Hayes, New York Times, 18 May 2025
Verb
  • For McIlroy — who relied on the services of a sports psychologist to conquer the mountain of winning golf’s Grand Slam — the moment of victory was a long time coming, and an emotional one.
    Anna Lazarus Caplan, People.com, 15 May 2025
  • Tiger Woods ruled the PGA Championship again Having already conquered the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach and The Open Championship at St. Andrews earlier that year, Tiger Woods arrived at Valhalla Golf Club in 2000, chasing yet another milestone.
    Devlina Sarkar, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 May 2025
Verb
  • Several protesters were injured, some of them critically, by Flash-balls fired by riot police, or by cops sent out to quell demonstrations that were growing increasingly unwieldy.
    Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 15 May 2025
  • It’s also infused with aloe and calendula extracts, which are soothing to skin and help quell redness.
    Deanna Pai, Vogue, 15 May 2025
Verb
  • The moment transpired seven months after the Liberty defeated the Minessota Lynx in a riveting five-game WNBA Finals.
    Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 18 May 2025
  • But 19 months after the war in Gaza began, Israel has failed to either defeat Hamas or free all of the captives.
    Aaron Boxerman, New York Times, 17 May 2025
Verb
  • Bird flu remains a major threat that will strike again—as long as factory farms continue to dominate our poultry market.
    Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 May 2025
  • The other German parties delayed their reckoning with popular discontent over immigration, and instead let the AfD dominate that issue, which heated up politically until it could not be ignored.
    Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 13 May 2025
Verb
  • Orwell authored 1984, a bleak vision of the future where an authoritarian regime weaponizes language to suppress independent thought and rewrite history.
    Jason Snyder, Forbes.com, 14 May 2025
  • However, consistent, long-term stress can wear down your immune system, exposing you to inflammation and suppressing your body's response to infections.2 UTIs occur when the urinary tract, including the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra, is infected.
    Brittany Dube, Health, 13 May 2025
Verb
  • Follow the following design tips to master the art of styling your end table.
    Sophie Flaxman, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 May 2025
  • Her early exposure to the game amplified her love and developed a desire to master all aspects.
    Patrick Z. McGavin, Chicago Tribune, 8 May 2025
Verb
  • Singer, in particular, subjected new cast member Eboni K. Williams — the show’s first Black full-time cast member — to a hailstorm of microaggressions and was the subject of several official complaints.
    Louis Staples, Rolling Stone, 13 May 2025
  • Just one week after subjecting us to Bobby’s funeral, Thursday’s episode of 9-1-1 wastes no time punching us in the gut once more, this time with a look back at the 118 in happier times.
    Andy Swift, TVLine, 8 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Subdue.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subdue. Accessed 23 May. 2025.

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