Definition

1. Verb:
   • To bring under control, especially by force or authority: To overcome, conquer, or bring into submission.
   • To reduce the intensity, force, or strength of something: To make something less extreme, harsh, or noticeable.
   • To suppress or restrain feelings, impulses, or desires: To keep one's own emotions or reactions in check.

Examples of Usage

• Verb:
  • The police worked to subdue the riot. (To bring a violent situation under control.)
  • She tried to subdue her laughter during the serious meeting. (To reduce the intensity of an emotion.)
  • He had to subdue his anger before responding. (To restrain a personal feeling.)
  • The king sought to subdue the rebellious provinces. (To conquer by force.)

Advanced Usage

• "to subdue a rebellion/revolt": to put down an armed uprising.
  • The army was called in to subdue the rebellion.
• "subdued lighting/colors": lighting or colors that are soft, muted, or not bright.
  • The restaurant had a romantic atmosphere with subdued lighting.
• "in a subdued manner/voice": behaving or speaking in a quiet, restrained way.
  • After the bad news, he spoke in a subdued voice.

Variants and Related Words

• Subdued (adj): Quiet, restrained, or softened in intensity.
  • She felt subdued after the long journey.
• Subdual (n): The act or process of subduing. (Less common)
  • The subdual of the territory took many years.

Synonyms

• Conquer: To overcome and take control of by force.
• Suppress: To put an end to something by force; to prevent from being expressed.
• Quell: To put an end to a rebellion or other disorder, typically by force.
• Overcome: To succeed in dealing with a problem or feeling.
• Restrain: To prevent someone or something from doing something; to keep under control.

Related Phrasal Verbs/Constructions

(Note: "Subdue" is not commonly used with particles to form standard phrasal verbs. Its meaning is typically conveyed alone or within specific constructions like those shown in "Advanced Usage.")

Related Idioms

• To subdue one's passions/appetite: To exercise self-control over strong desires.
  • A monk must learn to subdue his passions.
• To subdue the land: To bring wild or uncultivated land under control for agriculture or habitation.
  • The pioneers worked hard to subdue the land and build their farms.

Verb

1. correct by punishment or discipline
2. make subordinate, dependent, or subservient
   • Our wishes have to be subordinated to that of our ruler
3. get on top of; deal with successfully
   • He overcame his shyness
4. hold within limits and control
   • subdue one's appetites
   • mortify the flesh
5. to put down by force or authority
   • suppress a nascent uprising
   • stamp down on littering
   • conquer one's desires
6. put down by force or intimidation
   • The government quashes any attempt of an uprising
   • China keeps down her dissidents very efficiently
   • The rich landowners subjugated the peasants working the land