"The government quashes any attempt of an uprising"
"China keeps down her dissidents very efficiently"
"The rich landowners subjugated the peasants working the land"

"suppress a nascent uprising"
"stamp down on littering"
"conquer one's desires"

"subdue one's appetites"
"mortify the flesh"

"He overcame his shyness"

"Our wishes have to be subordinated to that of our ruler"