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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 That said, for now, despite elevated uncertainty and soft survey data, jobs data up to the month of April has remained robust and inflation subdued according to reports up to the month of March. Simon Moore, Forbes.com, 12 May 2025 Denver won Game 3 because Aaron Gordon, Michael Porter Jr. and Jamal Murray each scored at least 20 points, which went a long way toward subduing the struggles of Jokić. Tony Jones, New York Times, 12 May 2025 The color palettes are similarly subdued and sophisticated. Abby Wolner, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 May 2025 The spokesman could not say how many officers had been deployed, but livestreams on social media appeared to show between 50 and 100 officers struggling to subdue the students. Kerry Burke, New York Daily News, 8 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for subdue
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subdue
Verb
  • Skubal overcame a Tommy John procedure in college and a flexor tendon surgery earlier in his big-league career to become one of baseball’s elite pitchers.
    Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 30 May 2025
  • The odds remain against them — only 16.1% of teams have overcome a 3-2 deficit in NBA playoff history — but the Knicks are coming off their best all-around performance of the series.
    Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 30 May 2025
Verb
  • Educate Yourself, And Be Prepared The very best way to conquer your business fear and build confidence as a leader is to do the work required to be at your best.
    Michelle Mekky, Forbes.com, 27 May 2025
  • Putnam was always photographed with famous people: standing next to Charles Lindbergh, first man to fly solo across the Atlantic; posing with Commander Byrd, the man who conquered the South Pole; smiling with Howard Carter, the man who discovered King Tut.
    / CBS News, CBS News, 25 May 2025
Verb
  • Several protesters were injured, some of them critically, by Flash-balls fired by riot police, or by cops sent out to quell demonstrations that were growing increasingly unwieldy.
    Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 15 May 2025
  • It’s also infused with aloe and calendula extracts, which are soothing to skin and help quell redness.
    Deanna Pai, Vogue, 15 May 2025
Verb
  • And while Maresca’s position as head coach isn’t greatly consolidated by winning the least of them, defeat to Betis would have hurt him.
    Phil Hay, New York Times, 29 May 2025
  • Florida is 48-15 on the season and defeated its conference foe, Georgia, in the Super Regional.
    Kilty Cleary, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 May 2025
Verb
  • Rihanna’s ability to dominate the pop arena without compromising her Barbadian hertiage certainly served as a breakthrough for Caribbean artists.
    Ime Ekpo, Forbes.com, 25 May 2025
  • Moreover, Rocket has a relatively new CEO who wants to dominate the mortgage industry and is not afraid of technology, previously working at Intuit, PayPal, Groupon and Microsoft.
    Kenneth Squire, CNBC, 24 May 2025
Verb
  • Eight engines, three water tenders, two dozers and one hand crew are working to suppress the fire.
    CA WILDFIRE BOT, Sacbee.com, 26 May 2025
  • And in 1955, the McGee Fire burned through much of Converse Basin, consuming second-growth sequoias and demonstrating the dangers of suppressing all fires.
    Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 24 May 2025
Verb
  • Nike has mastered this by creating compelling narratives around athletes’ journeys.
    Erik Huberman, Rolling Stone, 21 May 2025
  • Topics include earning passive income online, mastering communication and public speaking skills, acing your job interview, and practical strategies to grow your wealth.
    Jennifer Liu, CNBC, 21 May 2025
Verb
  • Use of the funds to pay for unapproved expenses would subject accountholders to penalties.
    Anne Marie D. Lee, CBS News, 22 May 2025
  • And that order clearly violates the separation of powers, subjecting a presidential advisory body to intrusive discovery and threatening the confidentiality and candor of its advice, putatively to address a legal question that never should have necessitated discovery in this case at all.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 21 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Subdue.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subdue. Accessed 2 Jun. 2025.

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