2 meanings
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1 —
verb as in: subdued the opposition
Definition
to control, prevent, or make less intense — sometimes through forceThe 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.
- "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
- At school that day everyone was subdued, even those who had opposed Benazir.Malala Yousafzai -- I Am Malala
- Subdued, I fixed my attention upon Reverend Sykes, who seemed to be waiting for me to settle down.Harper Lee -- To Kill a Mockingbird
- They elevated me from all littleness of feeling, and although they did not remove my grief, they subdued and tranquillized it.Mary Shelley -- Frankenstein
- 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 = put down or brought it under control
subdued = brought under control
subdued = overcome (brought under control)
subduing = bringing under control
subdued = brought under control
subdued = quiet (of low intensity)
subdued = under control
subdued = made less intense
subdued = brought under control
2 —
adjective as in: subdued colors
Definition
not intense, or less activeThe 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.
- I prefer a restaurant that lends itself to subdued conversation.
- Her dress was a subdued shade of yellow.
- Two days later, when I arrived for our next meeting, he was subdued.Tara Westover -- Educated
- 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
- 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
- "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
subdued = calm (not intense)
subdued = quiet
subdued = soft (not bright)
subdued = calm (of low intensity)
subdued = mild or quiet
subdued = quiet (of low intensity)
subdued = less intense
subdued = mild
subdued = quiet
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