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Synonym Chooser

How does the verb subdue differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of subdue are conquer, defeat, overcome, overthrow, reduce, and vanquish. While all these words mean "to get the better of by force or strategy," subdue implies a defeating and suppression.

subdued the native tribes after years of fighting

When is conquer a more appropriate choice than subdue?

While the synonyms conquer and subdue are close in meaning, conquer implies gaining mastery of.

Caesar conquered Gaul

How do defeat and vanquish relate to one another, in the sense of subdue?

Defeat does not imply the finality or completeness of vanquish which it otherwise equals.

the Confederates defeated the Union forces at Manassas

When can overcome be used instead of subdue?

The words overcome and subdue are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, overcome suggests getting the better of with difficulty or after hard struggle.

overcame a host of bureaucratic roadblocks

Where would overthrow be a reasonable alternative to subdue?

Although the words overthrow and subdue have much in common, overthrow stresses the bringing down or destruction of existing power.

violently overthrew the old regime

In what contexts can reduce take the place of subdue?

While in some cases nearly identical to subdue, reduce implies a forcing to capitulate or surrender.

the city was reduced after a month-long siege

When would vanquish be a good substitute for subdue?

The words vanquish and subdue can be used in similar contexts, but vanquish implies a complete overpowering.

vanquished the enemy and ended the war

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of subdue If the population cannot be subdued, what may initially appear as a successful land grab may end up a volatile situation of terrorism and insurgency. Lawrence D. Freedman, Foreign Affairs, 14 Apr. 2025 Even TikTok is being rather subdued; there are no in-app warnings about a potential shutdown or videos from CEO Shou Zi Chew this time around begging for creators to contact their lawmakers. Chloe Albanesius, PC Magazine, 4 Apr. 2025 Schiff added that by imposing tariffs on every country, Trump is trying to subdue allies and rivals from across the globe from criticizing his actions. Nik Popli, Time, 3 Apr. 2025 Subdued volatility Unlike traditional assets, bitcoin’s pops and drops were relatively subdued this week, which some investors took as a mark of its maturity. Tanaya MacHeel, CNBC, 12 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for subdue
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subdue
Verb
  • Not without its controversy, like life, the show has tried to demonstrate that family can overcome anything with love, laughter, and conversation.
    DeVonne Goode, Parents, 24 Apr. 2025
  • Trailing 0-2, the Heat now faces a series deficit that not many NBA teams have overcome.
    Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 24 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The memory unit sits close to a CPU or GPU, to conquer latency and provide high bandwidth with low power consumption.
    John Werner, Forbes.com, 19 Apr. 2025
  • Strawberry Lemonade Any cook can conquer these fresh, celebratory recipes.
    Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 19 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The mind games that are typically part of every Miami game were quelled by Vancouver’s fearless play.
    Felipe Cardenas, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2025
  • Those rumors were quelled a bit when Smith was traded for, but Las Vegas might still be making a play to land the star quarterback prospect.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • In Brazil’s 2023 Presidential election, Lula da Silva defeated Jair Bolsonaro by less than two percentage points.
    The New Yorker, New Yorker, 23 Apr. 2025
  • Both competitors defeated four female opponents each to get to the championship bout.
    Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 23 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • While their presence pushes younger competitors to work even harder for wins, bigger racing teams just have elite equipment that can easily allow one car to dominate, the owner explained on the Dale Jr. Download podcast.
    Shane Connuck, Charlotte Observer, 19 Apr. 2025
  • This proposal, led by organizations such as the American Beverage Licensees (ABL), raises important questions about whether alcohol retailers should be allowed to dominate cannabis sales.
    Tribune Content Agency, Mercury News, 18 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The players argue the defendants have suppressed players’ earnings and other professional opportunities.
    Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 18 Apr. 2025
  • By suppressing the body's production of certain hormones, Lupron can pause the physical changes associated with puberty until a more appropriate age.
    Jordan King, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • There were experiments with clay, pigment and glazing that were unsuccessful but persistence, dedication and desire to master the craft eventually reaped rewards.
    Blue Carreon, Forbes.com, 27 Apr. 2025
  • Comments Penn Badgley is revealing the unusual acting technique that he’s mastered after five seasons of You.
    EW.com, EW.com, 25 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • But the administration hasn’t yet subjected any other state to Maine-level scrutiny.
    Brooke Migdon, The Hill, 19 Apr. 2025
  • Vietnam’s $123 billion trade surplus with the United States—the second highest in Asia after China and the highest in Southeast Asia—has subjected it to high tariffs.
    Lynn Kuok, Foreign Affairs, 14 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Subdue.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subdue. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.

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