2 meanings
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1 —as in:
subdue opposition
Definition
to control or put down by force or intimidation- She was threatening people with a knife, but police used a Taser to subdue her.
subdue = control or put down by force or intimidation
Other Uses (with this meaning)
- The government subdued the uprising.
- "Ladies and gentlemen," one of the guards called, "the rebels have been subdued."Kiera Cass -- The Selection
- The fever was subdued; the fever had been his complaint; of course he would soon be well again.Jane Austen -- Mansfield Park
- When her old self can be manifest without any controlling force subduing or restraining her, or inciting her to action.Bram Stoker -- Dracula
- 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, I fixed my attention upon Reverend Sykes, who seemed to be waiting for me to settle down.Harper Lee -- To Kill a Mockingbird
- Those who were aware that a ship had passed the island while the fire was out were subdued by the thought of Ralph's anger; while those, including the littluns who did not know, were impressed by the general air of solemnity.William Golding -- Lord of the Flies
- It took less than forty-eight hours to subdue the city.Suzanne Collins -- Catching Fire
- ...said she, with a smile; but it was a smile ill-suited to the conversation that had passed, a saucy playful smile, seeming to invite in order to subdue me; at least it appeared so to me.Jane Austen -- Mansfield Park
subdued = controlled or put down by force or intimidation
subdued = brought under control
subdued = overcome (brought under control)
subduing = bringing under control
subdued = brought under control
subdued = under control
subdued = made quiet
subdue = control or put down by force or intimidation
subdue = soften or overcome
2 —as in:
subdued colors
Definition
to reduce the intensity of something — such as colors, light, conversation, or moodor in the form subdued: describing something of low intensity
- I prefer a restaurant that lends itself to subdued conversation.
subdued = of low intensity
Other Uses (with this meaning)
- She was very upset this morning, but was more subdued and thoughtful when we talked this afternoon.
- 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
- The assembly murmured in subdued agreement.William Golding -- Lord of the Flies
- "By the way," he said in an even more subdued voice, "we aren't going to talk about this."John Knowles -- A Separate Peace
- Bep is also very subdued.Anne Frank -- The Diary of a Young Girl
- A subdued impassioned murmur was audible in the room beyond, and Miss Baker leaned forward unashamed, trying to hear.F. Scott Fitzgerald -- The Great Gatsby
- The meal's subdued.Suzanne Collins -- Catching Fire
- The demeanour of the black-uniformed men suddenly became more subdued.George Orwell -- 1984
- No question, it's acting a little subdued, but the wasp is up and moving and that means the others will be out soon as well.Suzanne Collins -- The Hunger Games
subdued = of low intensity
subdued = mild
subdued = quiet (of low intensity)
subdued = mild
subdued = quiet
subdued = quiet
subdued = quiet (of low intensity)
subdued = less intense
subdued = calm