Synonyms of subduing

subduing 1 of 3

noun

as in conquest

the act or process of bringing someone or something under one's control

the subduing of the wild horse was accomplished by a method reputedly used by Plains Indians

Synonyms & Similar Words

• conquest
• dominating
• domination
• subjugation
• subjection
• subjugating
• vanquishing
• takeover
• subjecting
• overpowering
• victory
• winning
• whipping
• defeat
• win
• trimming
• triumph
• licking
• beating
• enslavement
• trouncing
• drubbing
• shellacking

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• freeing
• liberation
• release
• emancipation
• enfranchisement
• manumission

subduing

2 of 3

adjective

1

as in noninflammatory

Related Words

• noninflammatory

Dissimilar Words

• stimulating
• provoking
• exciting
• provocative
• charged
• triggering
• explosive
• inflammatory
• inciting
• edgy
• instigating
• fiery
• piquing
• inducing
• incendiary
• inspiring
• instigative
• motivating
• motivational
• inspirational
• motivative

2

as in unemotional

Related Words

• unemotional
• unaffecting
• unimpressive

Dissimilar Words

• inducing
• inspiring
• motivating
• motivational
• provoking
• inspirational
• stimulating
• exciting
• provocative
• charged
• moving
• inciting
• motivative
• impressive
• affecting
• instigating
• stirring
• emotional
• edgy
• touching
• piquing
• instigative
• poignant
• impactful

subduing

3 of 3

verb

present participle of subdue

1

as in defeating

to achieve a victory over

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• defeating
• overcoming
• mastering
• conquering
• beating
• taking
• getting
• dispatching
• stopping
• surmounting
• licking
• succeeding
• upending
• trimming
• besting
• overbearing
• overmatching
• winning (against)
• prevailing (over)
• triumphing (over)
• getting the better of
• getting around
• worsting
• doing down
• finishing
• crushing
• burying
• slaughtering
• sweeping
• skunking
• overwhelming
• surpassing
• annihilating
• subjugating
• exceeding
• whipping
• scoring
• vanquishing
• upsetting
• knocking for a loop
• flattening
• clobbering
• overthrowing
• excelling
• capping
• bombing
• flourishing
• overpowering
• thrashing
• trouncing
• routing
• creaming
• transcending
• blowing out
• topping
• edging (out)
• walloping
• breaking
• skinning
• unseating
• outdoing
• smoking
• blowing away
• outshining
• nosing out
• pipping
• drubbing
• bettering
• waxing
• eclipsing
• shellacking
• outfighting
• outdistancing
• outstripping
• knocking over
• overtopping
• knocking off
• snowing under
• acing (out)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• losing (to)
• falling
• going down
• failing
• giving up
• collapsing
• folding
• going under
• flopping
• washing out
• flunking

2

as in conquering

to bring under one's control by force of arms

subdued the rebels and sent their leaders to the gallows

Synonyms & Similar Words

• conquering
• subjecting
• dominating
• defeating
• overcoming
• subjugating
• vanquishing
• pacifying
• enslaving
• subordinating
• reducing
• overpowering
• beating
• crushing
• quelling
• smashing
• annihilating
• whipping
• suppressing
• licking
• clobbering
• thrashing
• routing
• repressing
• prevailing (over)
• trouncing
• mowing (down)
• walloping
• triumphing (over)
• silencing
• smothering
• squashing
• drubbing
• quashing
• squelching
• skunking
• cracking down (on)
• clamping down (on)
• putting down
• breaking
• snuffing (out)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• freeing
• discharging
• liberating
• springing
• emancipating
• releasing
• enfranchising
• manumitting
• unchaining
• unbinding
• unfettering
• uncaging

3

as in quelling

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

• quelling
• suppressing
• repressing
• crushing
• destroying
• silencing
• extinguishing
• squashing
• quashing
• overcoming
• sitting on
• stifling
• squelching
• cracking down (on)
• demolishing
• clamping down (on)
• quenching
• slapping down
• putting down
• conquering
• subjugating
• wrecking
• strangling
• exterminating
• decimating
• throttling
• smothering
• obliterating
• dominating
• annihilating
• snuffing (out)
• dousing
• ruining
• vanquishing
• wasting
• smashing
• devastating
• overpowering
• wiping out
• putting out
• nuking
• overwhelming
• desolating
• rubbing out

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• assisting
• aiding
• helping
• supporting
• abetting
• backing
• stirring
• provoking
• inciting
• promoting
• advancing
• cultivating
• encouraging
• whipping (up)
• fostering
• furthering
• propping up
• fomenting
• instigating
• nurturing
• forwarding
• nourishing

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of subduing

Adjective

Empowered but often improperly trained Israelis fearful of any Palestinian-looking individual, ended up killing, instead of subduing, attackers, which further inflamed tensions. — Barak Mendelsohn, Foreign Affairs, 25 Aug. 2016

Verb

Rome — The death of a Moroccan man in police custody has sparked protests – some violent – in the northern city of Bologna after video of the incident showing officers forcefully subduing the man circulated online. — CNN Money, 21 July 2026

Viewers have already seen glimpses of the premiere, which involves Aang and Katara subduing a sea serpent while guiding refugees across a treacherous path. — Entertainment Weekly, 3 June 2026

Officers then shot her with a Taser, subduing her enough to take her into custody, police said. — City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2026

Trump thought the Secret Service did an excellent job subduing the gunman but the White House is reviewing security for major events for the country's 250th anniversary. — Bart Jansen, USA Today, 27 Apr. 2026

The defense was more than satisfactory in subduing the league’s top offense. — Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 19 Apr. 2026

Mario himself is played mostly straight by Pratt, subduing the exaggerated Italian accent from the games, while retaining the underdog aspect of a blue collar guy burdened with greater purpose. — Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 5 Apr. 2026

There, the pioneers—practical, inventive, restless, exuberant white men—clashed with Indigenous peoples, subduing them and a wilderness filled with wild animals and abundant natural resources. — Literary Hub, 1 Apr. 2026

Multiple officers were involved in subduing Guity and placing him in handcuffs, police said. — Colleen Cronin, Boston Herald, 14 Jan. 2026