26984 words

subdue

3 definitions • 6 examples
1
to reduce the force of something, or to prevent something from existing or developing:

Examples:

The fire burned for eight hours before the fire crews could subdue it.
He criticized the school for trying to subdue individual expression.
2
to bring a person or group under control by using force:

Examples:

Police say they have a range of methods available to them to subdue a person during a confrontation.
Their aim was to subdue security guards and cut the paintings from their frames.
As one rebellion is subdued, the conditions for another are forming elsewhere.
3
to reduce the force of (someone or something):

Examples:

She’d be hard to subdue if she got mad.

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