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
The federal government accelerated efforts to subdue resistance, bringing years of hardship and upheaval for Native Americans.
—
ABC News,
25 June 2026
These tactics could make the Cuban military much harder to subdue.
—
Avery Schmitz,
CNN Money,
24 June 2026
Fellow soldiers tackled and subdued Radford, holding him down until law enforcement arrived.
—
Alexandra Koch,
FOXNews.com,
23 June 2026
Bland appeared subdued during the proceedings and at times struggled to keep her eyes open as prosecutors delivered their opening statements.
—
Steve Maugeri,
CBS News,
22 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for subdue
ABC News,
25 June 2026
These tactics could make the Cuban military much harder to subdue.
—
Avery Schmitz,
CNN Money,
24 June 2026
Fellow soldiers tackled and subdued Radford, holding him down until law enforcement arrived.
—
Alexandra Koch,
FOXNews.com,
23 June 2026
Bland appeared subdued during the proceedings and at times struggled to keep her eyes open as prosecutors delivered their opening statements.
—
Steve Maugeri,
CBS News,
22 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for subdue
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subdue
Verb
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The rookie point guard overcame early shooting struggles to lead all scorers with 25 points.
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The telecommunications giant’s fight to end landline service is playing out in the FCC and federal court, amid an underlying battle over how much power the agency has to overcome decisions by states.
Verb
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Hong Kong/Hangzhou/Beijing — When humanoid robots dominated the stage of last year’s Spring Festival Gala with sleek dance routines, Ai Lin saw more than a spectacle.
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Brazil has dominated possession but has not turned that into opportunities to score.
Verb
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Newsom has not said if the newer version of the bill quells this concern.
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For those who are worried, this might help to quell fears.
Verb
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Egypt defeated Australia 4-2 in a penalty-kick shootout Friday after the teams played to a 1-1 tie after 120 minutes in Arlington, Texas.
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The short version is that after defeating the Kilrathi at the climax of Wing Commander 3, Mark Hamill’s Christopher Blair retires to a backwater world to live out a life in peace and obscurity.
Verb
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But Alexca, a bubbly toddler who giggles and runs about, has conquered her grandmother’s heart.
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Shooting in August, the film follows Asa Jones, a girl from Louisiana who wants to conquer the world of girls’ basketball.
Verb
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Record-setting heat is suspected in 25 deaths from the Deep South to the Midwest to the East Coast, authorities said, with the temperature highs also suppressing some Fourth of July celebrations.
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When coated onto a polypropylene separator with graphene, the material formed a thin interfacial layer that readily absorbed electrolyte while suppressing polysulfide migration.
Verb
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With life spent largely on transit, navigating tight layovers, and using their days off to jet-set across the globe, flight attendants have mastered the art of packing.
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Netanyahu, 76, has spent decades mastering political theater, sharp messaging and grand performances.
Verb
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This particular issue has to do with Washington state provisions that allow shelters to refuse to notify parents when minors are seeking gender-affirming care if the shelters conclude that the parents might subject the child to abuse or neglect.
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Other states are subjecting their wealthiest residents to new income taxes, rather than taxing assets.
Cite this Entry
“Subdue.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subdue. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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