Synonyms of subduing

subduing 1 of 3

noun

as in conquest

the act or process of bringing someone or something under one's control

the subduing of the wild horse was accomplished by a method reputedly used by Plains Indians

Synonyms & Similar Words

• conquest
• dominating
• domination
• subjugation
• subjection
• subjugating
• vanquishing
• takeover
• subjecting
• overpowering
• victory
• winning
• whipping
• defeat
• win
• trimming
• triumph
• licking
• beating
• enslavement
• trouncing
• drubbing
• shellacking

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• freeing
• liberation
• release
• emancipation
• enfranchisement
• manumission

subduing

2 of 3

adjective

1

as in noninflammatory

Related Words

• noninflammatory

Dissimilar Words

• stimulating
• provoking
• exciting
• provocative
• charged
• triggering
• explosive
• inflammatory
• inciting
• edgy
• instigating
• fiery
• piquing
• inducing
• incendiary
• inspiring
• instigative
• motivating
• motivational
• inspirational
• motivative

2

as in unemotional

Related Words

• unemotional
• unaffecting
• unimpressive

Dissimilar Words

• inducing
• inspiring
• motivating
• motivational
• provoking
• inspirational
• stimulating
• exciting
• provocative
• charged
• moving
• inciting
• motivative
• impressive
• affecting
• instigating
• stirring
• emotional
• edgy
• touching
• piquing
• instigative
• poignant
• impactful

subduing

3 of 3

verb

present participle of subdue

1

as in defeating

to achieve a victory over

subdued her fear of the dark by joining a club for spelunkers

Synonyms & Similar Words

• defeating
• overcoming
• mastering
• conquering
• beating
• taking
• getting
• dispatching
• stopping
• surmounting
• licking
• succeeding
• upending
• trimming
• besting
• overbearing
• overmatching
• winning (against)
• prevailing (over)
• triumphing (over)
• getting the better of
• getting around
• worsting
• doing down
• finishing
• crushing
• burying
• slaughtering
• sweeping
• skunking
• overwhelming
• surpassing
• annihilating
• subjugating
• exceeding
• whipping
• scoring
• vanquishing
• upsetting
• knocking for a loop
• flattening
• clobbering
• overthrowing
• excelling
• capping
• bombing
• flourishing
• overpowering
• thrashing
• trouncing
• routing
• creaming
• transcending
• blowing out
• edging (out)
• topping
• walloping
• breaking
• skinning
• unseating
• outdoing
• smoking
• blowing away
• outshining
• nosing out
• pipping
• drubbing
• bettering
• waxing
• eclipsing
• shellacking
• outfighting
• outdistancing
• outstripping
• knocking over
• overtopping
• knocking off
• snowing under
• acing (out)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• losing (to)
• falling
• going down
• failing
• giving up
• collapsing
• folding
• going under
• flopping
• washing out
• flunking

2

as in conquering

to bring under one's control by force of arms

subdued the rebels and sent their leaders to the gallows

Synonyms & Similar Words

• conquering
• subjecting
• dominating
• defeating
• overcoming
• subjugating
• vanquishing
• pacifying
• enslaving
• subordinating
• reducing
• overpowering
• beating
• crushing
• quelling
• smashing
• annihilating
• whipping
• suppressing
• licking
• clobbering
• thrashing
• routing
• repressing
• prevailing (over)
• trouncing
• mowing (down)
• walloping
• triumphing (over)
• silencing
• smothering
• squashing
• drubbing
• quashing
• squelching
• skunking
• cracking down (on)
• clamping down (on)
• putting down
• breaking
• snuffing (out)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• freeing
• discharging
• liberating
• springing
• emancipating
• releasing
• enfranchising
• manumitting
• unchaining
• unbinding
• unfettering
• uncaging

3

as in quelling

to put a stop to (something) by the use of force

labored through the night to subdue the river's rising waters by building a wall of sandbags around their property

Synonyms & Similar Words

• quelling
• suppressing
• repressing
• crushing
• destroying
• silencing
• extinguishing
• squashing
• quashing
• overcoming
• sitting on
• stifling
• squelching
• cracking down (on)
• demolishing
• clamping down (on)
• quenching
• slapping down
• putting down
• conquering
• subjugating
• wrecking
• strangling
• exterminating
• decimating
• throttling
• smothering
• obliterating
• dominating
• annihilating
• snuffing (out)
• dousing
• ruining
• vanquishing
• wasting
• smashing
• devastating
• overpowering
• wiping out
• putting out
• nuking
• overwhelming
• desolating
• rubbing out

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• assisting
• aiding
• helping
• supporting
• abetting
• backing
• stirring
• provoking
• inciting
• promoting
• advancing
• cultivating
• encouraging
• whipping (up)
• fostering
• furthering
• propping up
• fomenting
• instigating
• nurturing
• forwarding
• nourishing

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of subduing

Adjective

Empowered but often improperly trained Israelis fearful of any Palestinian-looking individual, ended up killing, instead of subduing, attackers, which further inflamed tensions. — Barak Mendelsohn, Foreign Affairs, 25 Aug. 2016

Verb

The handful of Israeli passengers grappled with the copilot for several minutes before subduing him and binding his hands with the cord from a set of headphones. — Arkansas Online, 2 Oct. 2026

After subduing the pilot, another crew member entered the cockpit and stabilized the plane. — Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 30 Sep. 2026

Beer that was fresh, full of flavor and aroma, and hadn’t traveled hundreds of miles or been pasteurized subduing the bright flavors. — Blaine Callahan, Hartford Courant, 7 Sep. 2026

The drones rip through the hallways scanning for a threat before disorienting a suspect using flashing lights and subduing them using pepper balls or by ramming into their body, the company says. — Cindy Von Quednow, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026

This means the market makers, often called dealers, are the ones that have to play catch-up, adding to volatility instead of subduing it. — Oliver Renick, CNBC, 23 July 2026

Viewers have already seen glimpses of the premiere, which involves Aang and Katara subduing a sea serpent while guiding refugees across a treacherous path. — Entertainment Weekly, 3 June 2026

Officers then shot her with a Taser, subduing her enough to take her into custody, police said. — City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2026

Trump thought the Secret Service did an excellent job subduing the gunman but the White House is reviewing security for major events for the country's 250th anniversary. — Bart Jansen, USA Today, 27 Apr. 2026