1. (v. t.) To bring under; to conquer by force or the exertion of superior power, and bring into permanent subjection; to reduce under dominion; to vanquish.

2. (v. t.) To overpower so as to disable from further resistance; to crush.

3. (v. t.) To destroy the force of; to overcome; as, medicines subdue a fever.

4. (v. t.) To render submissive; to bring under command; to reduce to mildness or obedience; to tame; as, to subdue a stubborn child; to subdue the temper or passions.

5. (v. t.) To overcome, as by persuasion or other mild means; as, to subdue opposition by argument or entreaties.

6. (v. t.) To reduce to tenderness; to melt; to soften; as, to subdue ferocity by tears.

7. (v. t.) To make mellow; to break, as land; also, to destroy, as weeds.

8. (v. t.) To reduce the intensity or degree of; to tone down; to soften; as, to subdue the brilliancy of colors.

abate allay alleviate anesthetize appease asphyxiate assuage attemper baffle bank the fire bear down beat down bend benumb blunt bottle up break break down bridle bring low bring to terms calm calm down censor chasten check choke off clamp down on compose conquer constrain control cool cork cork up crack down on cradle crush curb cushion damp damp down dampen de-emphasize deaden deaden the pain deafen defeat diminish dominate downplay drown dulcify dull ease ease matters even out extenuate extinguish fell flatten fluff foment gag gentle give relief hold down hold in check humble humiliate hush jump on keep down keep in check keep under keep within bounds kill knead laxate lay lenify lessen lighten limber limber up loosen lull mash massage master mellow milden mitigate moderate modulate mollify muffle mute muzzle numb obtund overcome overmaster overpower override overwhelm pacify pad palliate play down plump poultice pour balm into pour oil on pour water on prostrate pulp put down quash quell quench quiet reduce reduce the temperature relax relieve repress rest restrain ride down rock rock to sleep salve shake up shut down on silence sit down on sit on slacken slake slow down smash smooth smooth down smooth over smoothen smother sober sober down soft-pedal soften soften up soothe squash squelch stabilize stanch steady stifle still stop strangle stultify stupe subjugate suffocate supple suppress tame temper tenderize throttle tone down trample down trample underfoot tranquilize tread underfoot triumph over tune down tyrannize underplay unman vanquish weaken