subdue

19 synonyms and 1 antonym for subdue, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Verb — To bring a person, animal, or feeling under control, often by force or effort.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

master reduce overcome

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

conquer curb suppress tame subordinate inhibit

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

quash repress crucify subjugate mortify chasten get over surmount keep down stamp down

Synonyms by Meaning

1. verb

To bring a person, animal, or feeling under control, often by force or effort.

“It took three officers to subdue the struggling suspect.”

master reduce overcome conquer curb suppress tame subordinate inhibit quash repress crucify subjugate mortify chasten get over surmount keep down stamp down

2. verb

To conquer a country or people and bring them under one's control.

“The empire subdued the rebellious province after a long campaign.”

Opposites

liberate

How to use subdue

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

subdue a rebellion subdue an opponent subdue one's fear

Etymology

From Old French souduire, ultimately from Latin subdūcō ("to draw away, withdraw"), likely blended in meaning with subdō ("to subject, subdue").

Full origin of subdue →

Frequently asked questions

What does “subdue” mean?

The word “subdue” means to bring a person, animal, or feeling under control, often by force or effort. In plain terms, to bring something or someone under control, whether that's a person, an army, or an emotion.

How do you pronounce “subdue”?

“Subdue” is pronounced suhb-DYOO (/səbˈdu/ in IPA).

How do you use “subdue” in a sentence?

Here is “subdue” used in a sentence: “It took three officers to subdue the struggling suspect.”

What part of speech is “subdue”?

“Subdue” is a verb.

Where does the word “subdue” come from?

The word “subdue” comes from Latin. From Old French souduire, ultimately from Latin subdūcō ("to draw away, withdraw"), likely blended in meaning with subdō ("to subject, subdue").

How many meanings does “subdue” have?

“Subdue” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to bring a person, animal, or feeling under control, often by force or effort.

People also searched

master reduce overcome conquer curb suppress tame subordinate inhibit liberate mortify quash

Nearby words

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