subdue
Bring under control
To subdue is to bring under control, typically through force or authority.
You might subdue an attacker, an uprising, or a wild animal.
The word extends to quieter forms of conquest: subduing your emotions means keeping them in check, and subdued lighting or colors are muted, soft, less intense than usual.
A subdued person is quiet and restrained, perhaps because something has taken the fight out of them.
The medication helped subdue her anxiety.
Victory over another
- vanquishDefeat thoroughly in conflict
- overcomePrevail against difficulty
- triumphResounding, celebrated victory
- subjugateBring under dominion
dominate · overpower · crush · quash · suppress · overthrow · rout · trounce
Gently ease discomfort
- pacifyTo calm agitation
- quietLacking in sound
- tranquilizeInduce calm chemically
- settleReach final terms
ease · mollify · placate · temper · soften · gentle · lull · appease
Train for human cohabitation
- trainRail vehicle or instruct
- breakInterrupt continuity
- disciplineTrained self-control or specialty
- gentleSoft and kind
housebreak · condition · manage · habituate · acclimate · socialize · civilize · bridle
Locking wrist restraint
- shackleMetal limb restraint
- bindFasten or obligate
- fetterAnkle chain for prisoners
- chainLinked segments forming length
immobilize · confine · detain · arrest · cuff · pinion · truss · hobble
Female bovine
- dauntDiscourage through fear
- browbeatIntimidate through pressure
- menaceSource of potential harm
- threatenPromise harm or punishment
coerce · bully · terrorize · frighten · alarm · pressure · unnerve · demoralize
defeat
Victory over another
- vanquishDefeat thoroughly in conflict
- overcomePrevail against difficulty
- triumphResounding, celebrated victory
subjugate · dominate · overpower · crush · quash · suppress · overthrow · rout · trounce · overwhelm
soothe
Gently ease discomfort
- pacifyTo calm agitation
- quietLacking in sound
- tranquilizeInduce calm chemically
settle · ease · mollify · placate · temper · soften · gentle · lull · appease · defuse
domesticate
Train for human cohabitation
- trainRail vehicle or instruct
- breakInterrupt continuity
- disciplineTrained self-control or specialty
gentle · housebreak · condition · manage · habituate · acclimate · socialize · civilize · bridle · harness
handcuff
Locking wrist restraint
chain · immobilize · confine · detain · arrest · cuff · pinion · truss · hobble · straitjacket
cow
Female bovine
threaten · coerce · bully · terrorize · frighten · alarm · pressure · unnerve · demoralize · dishearten
tranquilize
Induce calm chemically
- anesthetizeRender insensible to pain
- drugActive chemical compound
- narcotizeInduce artificial unconsciousness
dope · chloroform · benumb · stupefy · knock out · put under · medicate · numb · sedate · etherize
- aggressionhostility, violence, attack, fight, combativeness
- "Sub-" wordssubway, submarine, subtract, subject, suburb
- calmingcalm, calm down, soothe, relax, pacify
- restrainhold back, suppress, hold in, keep in, keep down
- dominateovercome, surpass, prevail, conquer, defeat
- softensoften, dampen, mute, muffle, tone down
- subdued colorsLow-saturation, quiet hues
- subdued glowGentle, restrained illumination