subdue (v.)

  1. put down by force or intimidation; The government quashes any attempt of an uprising; China keeps down her dissidents very efficiently; The rich landowners subjugated the peasants working the land

    [ Syn: repress , quash , keep down , subjugate , reduce ]

  2. to put down by force or authority; suppress a nascent uprising; stamp down on littering; conquer ones desires

    [ Syn: suppress , stamp down , inhibit , conquer , curb ]

  3. hold within limits and control; subdue ones appetites; mortify the flesh

    [ Syn: mortify , crucify ]

  4. get on top of; deal with successfully; He overcame his shyness

    [ Syn: overcome , get over , surmount , master ]

  5. make subordinate, dependent, or subservient; Our wishes have to be subordinated to that of our ruler

    [ Syn: subordinate ]

  6. correct by punishment or discipline

    [ Syn: tame , chasten ]

The dictionary is based on the WordNet Electronic Lexical Database.
WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2011 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.