Meaning & use
subdue
To overcome, defeat, or bring under control, often through force or great effort.
See it in a sentence
The firefighters worked for hours to subdue the blaze before it reached nearby houses.
Soft lighting was used to subdue the harsh glare of the overhead lamps.
A note on using this word
Subdue can apply to people, emotions, or even light and sound, always with the sense of reducing something's force or intensity.
Words with a similar meaning
overpowersuppress
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
incite
Make it your own
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