What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
overborn
Example
She was overborn with grief when she heard the news. [overborn: adjective]
Example
He felt overborn by the weight of his responsibilities. [overborn: verb]
subdued
Example
After the argument, he was subdued and didn't speak much. [subdued: adjective]
Example
The crowd was subdued after the team lost the game. [subdued: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Subdued is more commonly used than overborn in everyday language. Subdued is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while overborn is less common and may not be familiar to some English learners.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between overborn and subdued?
Both overborn and subdued are formal words that are typically used in written or formal contexts. However, subdued is more versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, while overborn is less common and may be considered too formal for some situations.
