Synonyms of subdue

subdue

verb

səb-ˈdü 

1

as in to overcome

to achieve a victory over

subdued her fear of the dark by joining a club for spelunkers

Synonyms & Similar Words

• overcome
• defeat
• master
• conquer
• beat
• take
• worst
• get
• best
• stop
• dispatch
• surmount
• overbear
• overmatch
• succeed
• upend
• lick
• prevail (over)
• win (against)
• triumph (over)
• get the better of
• trim
• get around
• overwhelm
• do down
• skunk
• bury
• crush
• annihilate
• sweep
• surpass
• finish
• subjugate
• slaughter
• vanquish
• overpower
• knock for a loop
• exceed
• better
• upset
• flatten
• whip
• trounce
• blow out
• overthrow
• clobber
• excel
• rout
• flourish
• edge (out)
• score
• blow away
• bomb
• unseat
• skin
• drub
• cream
• outdo
• transcend
• nose out
• break
• thrash
• snow under
• smoke
• outshine
• outstrip
• top
• cap
• outdistance
• outfight
• wallop
• pip
• knock over
• shellac
• wax
• eclipse
• overtop
• ace (out)
• knock off

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• lose (to)
• fall
• go down
• give up
• fail
• collapse
• fold
• go under
• wash out
• flunk
• flop

2

as in to dominate

to bring under one's control by force of arms

subdued the rebels and sent their leaders to the gallows

Synonyms & Similar Words

• dominate
• conquer
• subject
• overcome
• defeat
• subjugate
• enslave
• vanquish
• overpower
• pacify
• reduce
• subordinate
• crush
• beat
• quell
• suppress
• annihilate
• smash
• whip
• lick
• rout
• prevail (over)
• triumph (over)
• repress
• mow (down)
• thrash
• quash
• trounce
• clobber
• smother
• silence
• squelch
• drub
• squash
• wallop
• put down
• crack down (on)
• snuff (out)
• break
• skunk
• clamp down (on)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• liberate
• emancipate
• discharge
• release
• enfranchise
• free
• spring
• unbind
• manumit
• unchain
• unfetter
• uncage

3

as in to quell

to put a stop to (something) by the use of force

labored through the night to subdue the river's rising waters by building a wall of sandbags around their property

Synonyms & Similar Words

• quell
• suppress
• repress
• quash
• overcome
• destroy
• crush
• stifle
• extinguish
• silence
• sit on
• squelch
• squash
• crack down (on)
• snuff (out)
• slap down
• clamp down (on)
• put down
• demolish
• quench
• subjugate
• obliterate
• conquer
• throttle
• annihilate
• exterminate
• dominate
• strangle
• decimate
• smother
• douse
• vanquish
• overwhelm
• ruin
• overpower
• desolate
• wipe out
• put out
• devastate
• wreck
• smash
• waste
• nuke
• rub out

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• help
• assist
• aid
• support
• back
• provoke
• stir
• encourage
• promote
• abet
• incite
• cultivate
• prop up
• forward
• foster
• foment
• instigate
• nurture
• advance
• further
• whip (up)
• nourish

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

Recent Examples of subdue

After officers arrived, Johnson tried to escape while being handcuffed and was only subdued after police tased him. —Samantha Stutsman, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025

Deputies fired more pepper balls and rubber rounds at him to subdue him, Jonsen said, but the man instead got back into his car. —Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 28 Oct. 2025

The Arden Arcade crash ended the chase before deputies sent in a K-9 to subdue the suspect, said sheriff’s officials. —Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 28 Oct. 2025

Still, the crowds were thin and the usual hustle subdued. —Daniella Silva, NBC news, 24 Oct. 2025