subduing
Getting under control
Subduing is the act of bringing something under control, typically through force or sustained effort.
You subdue an attacker by overpowering them, subdue a fire by containing it, subdue an urge by suppressing it.
The word implies overcoming resistance: After subduing the suspect, officers placed him in handcuffs.
Subdued can also describe something muted or restrained—subdued lighting, subdued colors, a subdued mood.
Overcoming in competition
- vanquishingDefeating completely in battle
- overcomingDefeating a challenge
- suppressingForcibly restraining or inhibiting
- quashingForcibly ending or voiding
crushing · dominating · subjugating · overpowering · triumphing · prevailing · mastering · breaking
Reducing distress or discomfort
- quietingMaking something still
- pacifyingCalming someone agitated
- tranquilizingAdministering calming drugs
- sedatingCalming with medication
lulling · mollifying · placating · gentling · taming · defusing · de-escalating · hushing
Fastening with pointed fasteners
- immobilizingPreventing any motion
- overpoweringToo intense to withstand
- wrestlingCombat sport requiring holds
- grapplingClose-quarters combat technique
holding down · tackling · restraining · binding · cuffing · handcuffing · shackling · capturing
defeating
Overcoming in competition
- vanquishingDefeating completely in battle
- overcomingDefeating a challenge
- suppressingForcibly restraining or inhibiting
quashing · crushing · dominating · subjugating · overpowering · triumphing · prevailing · mastering · breaking · humbling
soothing
Reducing distress or discomfort
- quietingMaking something still
- pacifyingCalming someone agitated
- tranquilizingAdministering calming drugs
sedating · lulling · mollifying · placating · gentling · taming · defusing · de-escalating · hushing · stilling
pinning
Fastening with pointed fasteners
- immobilizingPreventing any motion
- overpoweringToo intense to withstand
- wrestlingCombat sport requiring holds
grappling · holding down · tackling · restraining · binding · cuffing · handcuffing · shackling · capturing · apprehending
- predationstalking, pursuit, pouncing, attack, killing
- suppressionrepression, inhibition, restraint, silencing, muzzling
- eliminatingeliminating, eradicating, wiping out, exterminating, abolishing
- outperformingsurpassing, exceeding, excelling, outperforming, outdoing
- overwhelming verbsflooding, drowning, crushing, smothering, swamping
- restrainingconstraining, restricting, limiting, confining, curbing
subduingsurrendering
Ceasing to resist
yielding · submitting · capitulating · succumbing · ceding
subduinginciting
Urging others to act
agitating · inflaming · provoking · stirring up · rousing
subduingliberating
Setting free from constraint
freeing · releasing · emancipating · empowering · unleashing