subdue
/səb'dju:/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Verb:
- To bring under control, especially by force or authority: To overcome, conquer, or bring into submission.
- To reduce the intensity, force, or strength of something: To make something less extreme, harsh, or noticeable.
- To suppress or restrain feelings, impulses, or desires: To keep one's own emotions or reactions in check.
Examples of Usage
- Verb:
- The police worked to subdue the riot. (To bring a violent situation under control.)
- She tried to subdue her laughter during the serious meeting. (To reduce the intensity of an emotion.)
- He had to subdue his anger before responding. (To restrain a personal feeling.)
- The king sought to subdue the rebellious provinces. (To conquer by force.)
Advanced Usage
- "to subdue a rebellion/revolt": to put down an armed uprising.
- The army was called in to subdue the rebellion.
- "subdued lighting/colors": lighting or colors that are soft, muted, or not bright.
- The restaurant had a romantic atmosphere with subdued lighting.
- "in a subdued manner/voice": behaving or speaking in a quiet, restrained way.
- After the bad news, he spoke in a subdued voice.
Variants and Related Words
- Subdued (adj): Quiet, restrained, or softened in intensity.
- She felt subdued after the long journey.
- Subdual (n): The act or process of subduing. (Less common)
- The subdual of the territory took many years.
Synonyms
- Conquer: To overcome and take control of by force.
- Suppress: To put an end to something by force; to prevent from being expressed.
- Quell: To put an end to a rebellion or other disorder, typically by force.
- Overcome: To succeed in dealing with a problem or feeling.
- Restrain: To prevent someone or something from doing something; to keep under control.
Related Phrasal Verbs/Constructions
(Note: "Subdue" is not commonly used with particles to form standard phrasal verbs. Its meaning is typically conveyed alone or within specific constructions like those shown in "Advanced Usage.")
Related Idioms
- To subdue one's passions/appetite: To exercise self-control over strong desires.
- A monk must learn to subdue his passions.
- To subdue the land: To bring wild or uncultivated land under control for agriculture or habitation.
- The pioneers worked hard to subdue the land and build their farms.
Verb
- correct by punishment or discipline
- make subordinate, dependent, or subservient
- Our wishes have to be subordinated to that of our ruler
- get on top of; deal with successfully
- He overcame his shyness
- hold within limits and control
- subdue one's appetites
- mortify the flesh
- to put down by force or authority
- suppress a nascent uprising
- stamp down on littering
- conquer one's desires
- 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