1. to bring under control by force; to overcome or defeat
2. to make less intense or prominent; to tone down
3. to calm or quiet someone’s emotions or behavior

Examples

• The police were able to subdue the violent suspect.
• It took hours to subdue the raging fire.
• She tried to subdue her anger before speaking.
• The decorator used subdued colors throughout the room.
• The medication helped subdue his anxiety.
• The rebels were finally subdued after months of fighting.
• He spoke in a subdued voice during the meeting.