1
as in to overcome
to achieve a victory over
subdued her fear of the dark by joining a club for spelunkers
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of subdue
Toward the end of the clip circulating TikTok, the subway riders appear to beat the man after subduing him.
—
Julia Marnin
july 8, Miami Herald, 8 July 2025
Richard Reid did not detonate the explosive and the plane landed in Boston after passengers subdued him.
—Patricia Gallagher Newberry, The Enquirer, 8 July 2025
The crowd were slightly subdued for the Britpop band Cast who appeared, in truth, somewhat out of their depth in a venue of this size.
—Thomas Smith, Billboard, 7 July 2025
Nimmo’s celebration upon hitting the grand slam was subdued.
—Will Sammon, New York Times, 6 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for subdue
Julia Marnin
july 8, Miami Herald, 8 July 2025
Richard Reid did not detonate the explosive and the plane landed in Boston after passengers subdued him.
—Patricia Gallagher Newberry, The Enquirer, 8 July 2025
The crowd were slightly subdued for the Britpop band Cast who appeared, in truth, somewhat out of their depth in a venue of this size.
—Thomas Smith, Billboard, 7 July 2025
Nimmo’s celebration upon hitting the grand slam was subdued.
—Will Sammon, New York Times, 6 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for subdue
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subdue
Verb
-
For two decades, senior legislators and military leaders have been working, mostly without success, to overcome these problems.—
Dexter Filkins,
New Yorker,
14 July 2025
-
Judicial confirmations were once a slower, more contentious process, often requiring 60 votes to overcome a filibuster.—
Samantha-Jo Roth,
The Washington Examiner,
14 July 2025
Verb
-
As recently as this week, Chinese aircraft carriers pushed farther into waters that had long been dominated by the U.S. military, in a series of drills reported by the Japanese military's joint staff.—
Tom Bowman,
NPR,
24 July 2025
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This weekend, a beautiful crescent moon will dominate the post-sunset evening sky.—
Jamie Carter,
Forbes.com,
24 July 2025
Verb
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After years of smoking to help quell her anxiety, Tish found that the drug only made things worse.—
Marina Watts,
People.com,
15 July 2025
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Don’t have a problem using the National Guard to quell rioting in Los Angeles, your anti-democracy.—
Chris Roemer,
Baltimore Sun,
3 July 2025
Verb
-
The Dodgers defeated the Yankees in the 2024 World Series four games to one.—
Tim Lammers,
Forbes.com,
15 July 2025
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The billionaires will spend endlessly to defeat him.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
14 July 2025
Verb
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The Fantastic Four: First Steps is conquering around $23 million in previews tonight that began at 2 p.m..—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
25 July 2025
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Advocates can postulate that, absent the resolve of the United States to fight in Vietnam, even in a losing cause, the Soviet Union and China would have been emboldened to invade and conquer America, Western Europe and Japan, writing an epitaph for freedom.—
Bruce Fein,
Baltimore Sun,
24 July 2025
Verb
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Sandra Lynn Hemme filed the suit Thursday, which accuses investigators of fabricating evidence, coercing a false confession and suppressing evidence that could have proven her innocence.—
Kendrick Calfee,
Kansas City Star,
25 July 2025
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Past research, Jansen notes, has found that cannabis can suppress the immune system through its active compounds: CBD, THC and other minor cannabinoids.—
Hannah Millington,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 July 2025
Verb
-
Common roof framing is a true skill, and each day, there are fewer carpenters who have mastered it.—
Tim Carter,
Hartford Courant,
19 July 2025
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Leon guides clients to master five critical leadership domains identified in a proprietary Executive Leadership Scorecard.—
Matt Emma,
USA Today,
18 July 2025
Verb
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The panel had previously considered a version that would have subjected all housing developments to this appeals board.—
Josephine Stratman,
New York Daily News,
21 July 2025
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Two things can be true: Doctors are responsible for keeping mom and baby safe during a C-section and also for not subjecting any patient to avoidable torment.—
Erica Sloan,
SELF,
16 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Subdue.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subdue. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
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