subdue
v.v. to bring a person, group, or feeling under control, often by using force or quiet strength. You use this when someone stops a fight or hides a strong emotion.
v. to bring a person or group under control by force; to suppress or quieten a feeling or physical sensation. Transitive — requires a direct object.
The police managed to subdue the suspect without any injuries.
She struggled to subdue her growing panic as the elevator came to a sudden halt between floors.
The military was deployed to subdue the uprising in the northern provinces, though the government later admitted that force alone could not resolve the underlying social grievances.
From Middle English subdewen, subduen, sodewen, from Old French souduire, from Latin subdūcō (“to draw away”), perhaps influenced by subdō (“to subdue, subject”).
The verb is transitive and takes a direct object. Often used in the passive voice when describing the outcome of a conflict.