Subdue (Verb)
Meaning 1
Put down by force or intimidation; "The government quashes any attempt of an uprising"; "China keeps down her dissidents very efficiently"; "The rich landowners subjugated the peasants working the land".
Classification
Verbs of political and social activities and events.
Examples
- The government forces managed to subdue the violent protesters with tear gas and water cannons.
- Police in riot gear were called in to subdue the angry mob that had gathered outside the stadium.
- The strict regime was able to subdue the opposition through a combination of fear and propaganda.
- The security team quickly subdued the would-be thief, holding him until the authorities arrived.
- The military was deployed to subdue the rebel forces that had been terrorizing the countryside for months.
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Meaning 2
Correct by punishment or discipline.
Classification
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc..
Examples
- The parents had to subdue their child's tantrums by setting firm boundaries and imposing discipline.
- The teacher struggled to subdue the unruly student's behavior in class with warnings and disciplinary actions.
- The strict principal worked hard to subdue the school's bullying problem through a series of tough new policies.
- The police officer had to subdue the uncooperative suspect using non-lethal force and handcuffs.
- The government established a new task force to subdue the recent wave of organized crime through aggressive tactics and harsh penalties.
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Meaning 3
Get on top of; deal with successfully; "He overcame his shyness".
Classification
Verbs of fighting, athletic activities.
Examples
- She had to subdue her fear of heights in order to complete the rock climbing challenge.
- The firefighters worked hard to subdue the flames that engulfed the building.
- After years of struggling, he finally managed to subdue his addiction to smoking.
- The new employee took a few months to subdue his nervousness around his coworkers.
- With the help of therapy, Sarah was able to subdue her anxiety and live a more balanced life.
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Meaning 4
Hold within limits and control; "subdue one's appetites"; "mortify the flesh".
Classification
Verbs of feeling.
Examples
- She had to subdue her anger and refrain from reacting impulsively in the tense situation.
- He struggled to subdue his desires and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
- Through years of practice and self-discipline, she managed to subdue her fear of public speaking.
- The meditation teacher guided students to subdue their minds and achieve inner peace.
- To avoid overeating, he had to subdue his appetite during the holiday feast.
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Meaning 5
Bring under control by force or authority; "suppress a nascent uprising"; "stamp down on littering"; "conquer one's desires".
Classification
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc..
Examples
- The police used tear gas to subdue the rioters and restore order in the city.
- After weeks of training, she finally managed to subdue her fear of heights and went skydiving.
- The government took measures to subdue inflation by increasing interest rates and reducing spending.
- He had to subdue the temptation to quit his job and instead focused on finding a solution to his problems.
- The firefighters worked quickly to subdue the blaze before it spread to the nearby houses.
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Meaning 6
Make subordinate, dependent, or subservient; "Our wishes have to be subordinated to that of our ruler".
Classification
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc..
Examples
- The new ruler's first task was to subdue the tribes along the mountainous border by imposing heavy taxes and drafting young men into the army.
- Her fierce personality helped subdue the opposing argument that had plagued the council for months, allowing her to move forward with her plan.
- The manager found it difficult to subdue the strong-willed employee who constantly challenged her authority and questioned her decisions.
- The dominant team was able to subdue their less-experienced opponents with their lightning-fast passes and an impressive display of skill.
- As the country's leader, she vowed to work with neighboring nations to subdue the common threat of terrorism and restore peace to the region.