are being subdued

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "are being subdued" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where something or someone is currently being controlled or restrained. Example: "The protesters are being subdued by the police to maintain order in the city."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

They are being subdued, not eradicated.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

While they were being subdued, Mr. Mohamed sat quietly in his chair, shaking his head and looking as if he wanted no part of what was going on.

The New York Times

Officer Scott Smith, the first police officer in Connecticut to be charged with murder for a shooting while on duty, said the man, Franklyn Reid, had failed to respond when he was ordered to show his hands, and seemed to be reaching for a weapon as he was being subdued.

The New York Times

As he was being subdued by the Soviet police, the Canadian players headed over and Peter Mahovlich jumped over the boards to confront police with his stick.

Wikipedia

"The creek is being subdued from an A stream down to an impaired stream and being re-routed although some of the IDNR specialists have asked to avoid any disturbance.

Huffington Post

Here they are, being totally subdued.

Vice

He was injured while being subdued and was being treated at a hospital, the report said.

The New York Times

Far from being subdued, Cairo was positively glowing.

The New York Times - Travel

– against South Africa further underlined the prevailing theme: the underdogs have muscled up and are not being subdued with the same ease they used to be.

The Guardian - Sport

A police spokeswoman said the man, who is 21 and from Nablus, shouted "God is great!" in Arabic before being subdued by police officers.

The New York Times

He noted that such guidelines might clash with "field realities," since many of the people being subdued were psychotic or intoxicated, and in some cases the officers fired as they were being charged upon.

The New York Times - Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "are being subdued" to clearly indicate an ongoing process of controlling or restraining a subject. This passive construction is suitable when the actor is less important than the action itself.

Common error

Avoid replacing the passive construction "are being subdued" with an active voice construction if the agent performing the subduing action is unknown or irrelevant. Switching to active voice may shift the focus inappropriately.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are being subdued" functions as a passive verb phrase, indicating that the subject is undergoing an action rather than performing it. As Ludwig highlights, it signifies a state of being controlled or restrained. This aligns with examples where forces or individuals are brought under control.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

7%

Science

7%

Social Media

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "are being subdued" serves as a passive verb construction used to describe something or someone currently undergoing control or restraint. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and the examples reflect its use in contexts like news reporting and general descriptions. While not exceedingly common, it finds a place in neutral to slightly formal registers. When writing, remember that this construction emphasizes the action being done to the subject, rather than the actor performing the action. Alternatives such as "are being restrained" or "are being controlled" can offer nuanced variations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are being restrained

Focuses more on the act of physical or metaphorical restraint.

are being controlled

Emphasizes the act of managing or directing something.

are being suppressed

Highlights the act of preventing something from developing or expressing itself.

are being overpowered

Suggests a struggle where one force is dominating another.

are being quelled

Implies that something disruptive is being calmed or brought to an end.

are being dominated

Emphasizes the exertion of power or influence over something.

are being tamed

Suggests the process of making something wild or unruly more docile.

are being conquered

Implies overcoming resistance and gaining control.

are being subjugated

Focuses on bringing someone or something under complete control or domination.

are being put down

Suggests forceful suppression or discouragement.

FAQs

How can I use "are being subdued" in a sentence?

Use "are being subdued" to describe a situation where something or someone is currently in the process of being brought under control. For example, "The rioters "are being subdued" by the National Guard".

What are some alternatives to "are being subdued"?

You can use alternatives like "are being restrained", "are being controlled", or "are being suppressed" depending on the context.

Is "are being subdued" formal or informal?

"Are being subdued" is generally considered neutral to formal, suitable for news reports, academic papers, and other professional contexts.

What's the difference between "are being subdued" and "have been subdued"?

"Are being subdued" indicates an ongoing action, while "have been subdued" implies that the action is completed. For example, "The fire is being subdued" means it's currently being controlled, whereas "The fire has been subdued" means it's now under control.