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tame
/teɪm/
not dangerous or wild
The zoo has a tame lion that allows visitors to pet it.
This lion is not aggressive and behaves calmly around humans.
neutral
Not dangerous or wild; domesticated.
The once-wild horse became tame after years of training.
The horse is now calm and accustomed to human interaction.
Often describes animals that are no longer aggressive or unpredictable.
neutral
Controlled, restrained, or not extreme.
The party had a tame atmosphere compared to last year.
The mood was subdued and not lively.
Can describe emotions, events, or behaviors that are moderate or lack intensity.
neutral
To domesticate or make less wild.
They tamed the wild mustang over several months.
The horse was trained to be calm and obedient.
Often used for animals but can metaphorically describe controlling emotions or situations.
neutral
To make something less intense or extreme.
The medicine tamed the patient's pain.
The pain became manageable and less severe.
Common in medical or psychological contexts to describe reducing severity.
Collocations
tame animalan animal that is not wild or dangeroustame personalitya calm and unaggressive naturetame criticismmild or restrained feedbacktame the crowdto calm or control a group
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Avoid overusing 'tame' for humans
'Tame' can sound negative when describing people (e.g., 'She's too tame' implies she lacks boldness). Use 'calm,' 'gentle,' or 'reserved' instead.
Gold Rule
Use 'tame' for animals or controlled states
Reserve 'tame' for animals, emotions, or situations that are domesticated or subdued. Avoid using it to describe people in formal writing.
Word Origin
From Old English 'tam' meaning 'domesticated' or 'gentle', related to Old Norse 'tamr' and Germanic roots. The verb form emerged in Middle English.
Usage Notes
Commonly used for animals but can describe emotions, events, or behaviors. Avoid using for humans in formal contexts (e.g., 'tame person' may imply lack of spirit).
Word Breakdown
tam-
domesticated or gentle
rootEnglish Dictionary