subdue — to bring under control, especially by force; to overcome or quiet
Part of speech: VERB
Definition: to bring under control, especially by force; to overcome or quiet
Pronunciation (IPA): /səbˈdu/
Example Sentences
- The teacher used her stern voice to subdue the noisy classroom.
- He tried to subdue his laughter when his boss slipped on the banana peel.
- The restaurant's subdued atmosphere made it perfect for romantic dinners.
subdue
VERB[/səbˈdu/]
to bring under control, especially by force; to overcome or quiet

The knight moved carefully to subdue the wild horse without hurting it.

Pursue to subdue, then undo the fear too
Got the picture? Now let's practice.
🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From Old French 'subduer', derived from Latin 'subduere', combining 'sub-' (under) and 'ducere' (to lead or conduct). The word entered English in the 13th century with the sense of bringing something under one's control or dominion.
Breakdown
sub- (under) + -due (from Latin ducere, to lead) = subdue (to bring under control)
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The teacher used her stern voice to subdue the noisy classroom.”
“He tried to subdue his laughter when his boss slipped on the banana peel.”
“The restaurant's subdued atmosphere made it perfect for romantic dinners.”
“She couldn't subdue her excitement about meeting her favorite celebrity.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related
Want to master 19,000+ words?
Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.