Sample sentences for SUBDUE - verbalworkout.com

2 meanings

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1 —
verb as in: subdued the opposition

Definition

to control, prevent, or make less intense — sometimes through force

The exact meaning of subdue depends upon its context. For example:

"subdued a nation" — defeated militarily and brought under control
"subdued the fever" — made it less intense or defeated it
"subdued her enthusiasm" — made it less intense
"subdued her fears" — made them less intense or overcame them
"subdued my emotions" — kept them under control
"subdued the crowd" — quieted or controlled it

She was threatening people with a knife, but police used a Taser to subdue her.

subdue = overcome and control

Other Uses (with this meaning)

The government subdued the uprising.

subdued = put down or brought it under control

"Ladies and gentlemen," one of the guards called, "the rebels have been subdued."
Kiera Cass -- The Selection

subdued = brought under control

The fever was subdued; the fever had been his complaint; of course he would soon be well again.
Jane Austen -- Mansfield Park

subdued = overcome (brought under control)

When her old self can be manifest without any controlling force subduing or restraining her, or inciting her to action.
Bram Stoker -- Dracula

subduing = bringing under control

Slim gazed at him for a moment and then looked down at his hands; he subdued one hand with the other, and held it down.
John Steinbeck -- Of Mice and Men

subdued = brought under control

At school that day everyone was subdued, even those who had opposed Benazir.
Malala Yousafzai -- I Am Malala

subdued = quiet (of low intensity)

Subdued, I fixed my attention upon Reverend Sykes, who seemed to be waiting for me to settle down.
Harper Lee -- To Kill a Mockingbird

subdued = under control

They elevated me from all littleness of feeling, and although they did not remove my grief, they subdued and tranquillized it.
Mary Shelley -- Frankenstein

subdued = made less intense

Across the subdued children's heads Kit and Mercy faced their two visitors, Mr. Eleazer Kimberley, the schoolmaster, and the Reverend John Woodbridge.
Elizabeth George Speare -- The Witch of Blackbird Pond

subdued = brought under control

Dictionary / pronunciation — Google^®Dictionary list — Onelook.com^®

2 —
adjective as in: subdued colors

Definition

not intense, or less active

The exact meaning of subdued depends upon its context. For example:

"subdued colors" — not too bright (soft, not intense)
"a subdued voice" — quiet; perhaps whispered
"a subdued mood" — quiet and less active; perhaps a bit sad or thoughtful
"subdued summer activity" — less active or busy than normal

The rooms are decorated with a subdued color palette to evoke feelings of comfort.

subdued = soft (not bright)

Other Uses (with this meaning)

She was very upset this morning, but was more subdued and thoughtful when we talked this afternoon.

subdued = calm (not intense)

I prefer a restaurant that lends itself to subdued conversation.

subdued = quiet

Her dress was a subdued shade of yellow.

subdued = soft (not bright)

Two days later, when I arrived for our next meeting, he was subdued.
Tara Westover -- Educated

subdued = calm (of low intensity)

When I reach the limb that supports the nest, the humming becomes more distinctive. But it's still oddly subdued if these are tracker jackers.
Suzanne Collins -- The Hunger Games

subdued = mild or quiet

The assembly murmured in subdued agreement.
William Golding -- Lord of the Flies

subdued = quiet (of low intensity)

T.J., however, was surprisingly subdued when he settled into the wagon; I suppose that at three-thirty in the morning even T.J.'s mouth was tired.
Mildred D. Taylor -- Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry

subdued = less intense

"By the way," he said in an even more subdued voice, "we aren't going to talk about this."
John Knowles -- A Separate Peace

subdued = mild

Bep is also very subdued.
Anne Frank -- The Diary of a Young Girl

subdued = quiet

Dictionary / pronunciation — Google^®Dictionary list — Onelook.com^®

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