subdue

verb

sub·​due səb-ˈdü 

-ˈdyü

subdued; subduing

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

Synonyms of subdue

• overcome
• defeat
• master
• conquer
• beat
• take
• worst
• get

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

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

The officer said he was repeatedly struck with a broom and with snow shovels while trying to subdue and arrest Alfredo Alejandro Aljorna following a car crash and foot chase. —Jack Brook, Twin Cities, 21 Jan. 2026

Still, the mood was somewhat subdued, with a sense that there’s no easy fix to building trust. —Diane Brady, Fortune, 20 Jan. 2026

Back in San Francisco, the mood was subdued at the Kezar Pub, where only a handful of 49ers fans gathered to watch the remaining playoff games. —CBS News, 19 Jan. 2026

When Samson starts coming round in search of more of the morphine darts Kelson has been using to subdue him — not even zombies are immune to the appeal of opiates — Kelson starts treating his wounds, then joining him in his doses, then dancing with him to fragments of ’80s songs. —Alison Willmore, Vulture, 17 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

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

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for subdue

• blew
• blue
• boo
• brew
• chew
• chou
• clue
• coo
• coup
• crew
• cue
• dew

Kids Definition

subdue

verb

sub·​due səb-ˈd(y)ü 

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