subdue

/səb-ˈdü/

Middle English sodewen, subduen, from Anglo-French soduire, subdure to lead astray, overcome, arrest (influenced in form and meaning by Latin subdere to subject), from Latin subducere to withdraw, remove stealthily

verb

  1. to conquer and bring into subjection : vanquish

  2. to bring under control especially by an exertion of the will : curb

  3. to bring (land) under cultivation

conquer vanquish defeat subdue reduce overcome overthrow mean to get the better of by force or strategy. conquer implies gaining mastery of. vanquish implies a complete overpowering.