tame

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/teɪm/
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To make something less wild or intense, or to describe what is domesticated, gentle, mild, or disappointingly unexciting.
Practice using tame in conversation until it feels natural

Examples

  • The band's new album is polished but rather tame.
  • Their tame goats followed them across the yard.
  • The jokes were tame enough for a family audience.
  • The central bank tried to tame inflation without causing a recession.
  • The ending felt tame after such a tense opening.

Similar words

safe
tractable
mild
train
domesticate
flat
subdue
restrain
subdued
docile

Meanings

Make less wild

verb
everyday
neutral
To train an animal to live calmly around people, or to bring something unruly, dangerous, or intense under control.

Examples

  • The trainer tamed the horse with patience and steady handling.
  • It took months to tame the rescued parrot.
  • New rules helped tame the chaos at the station.
  • The central bank tried to tame inflation without causing a recession.
  • She tamed her temper before the meeting began.
  • Engineers built barriers to tame the river during floods.
  • The editor tamed the long report into a clear summary.

Similar words

domesticate
train
break
subdue
control
curb
restrain
moderate

Domesticated or gentle

adjective
animals
neutral
Accustomed to people and not wild, fierce, or likely to attack, especially of an animal.

Examples

  • The tame rabbit let the children stroke its ears.
  • A tame bird landed on her hand for seed.
  • The pony was gentle, tame, and easy to lead.
  • Even a tame animal can bite when frightened.
  • The sanctuary cares for both wild and tame deer.
  • Their tame goats followed them across the yard.
  • The fox looked tame, but the ranger warned everyone to stay back.

Similar words

domesticated
gentle
docile
trained
tractable
mild
manageable

Dull or unexciting

adjective
entertainment
neutral
Too mild, safe, or lacking in energy to be interesting or impressive.

Examples

  • After the dramatic trailer, the film felt surprisingly tame.
  • The jokes were tame enough for a family audience.
  • Her first design was bold, but the final version looked tame.
  • The debate was tame compared with last week's argument.
  • A little chili would make the sauce less tame.
  • The band's new album is polished but rather tame.
  • The ending felt tame after such a tense opening.

Similar words

dull
bland
mild
flat
subdued
safe
unexciting
restrained

Etymology

From Old English tam, meaning gentle or domesticated, with relatives in Old High German zam and Latin domare, meaning to tame.

FAQ

What does tame mean as a verb?

As a verb, tame means to train an animal to be manageable or to bring something wild, difficult, or intense under control.

What does tame mean as an adjective?

As an adjective, tame can mean domesticated and gentle, or dull and not very exciting.

Is tame the same as domesticated?

Not exactly. A single animal can be tame, while domestication usually describes a species changed over generations.

Can tame mean boring?

Yes. A tame film, party, flavor, or design feels too mild, safe, or unexciting.

What is the past tense of tame?

The past tense and past participle are both tamed.

What are common opposites of tame?

For animals, common opposites include wild, feral, and untamed. For dullness, opposites include exciting, lively, and bold.

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