tame
tame Lexical Profile
tame Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
(Of an animal) not dangerous or frightened of people; domesticated or accustomed to human contact.
"The park's deer are so tame that they will eat acorns directly from a visitor's hand."
Lacking excitement, boldness, or vigor; dull and uninspiring.
"After all the controversy surrounding the book, the film adaptation felt surprisingly tame."
(Of a person) overly compliant, submissive, or willing to cooperate without resistance.
"The committee wanted a tame spokesperson who would simply read the prepared statements without questioning policy."
• verb
To domesticate or train (a wild animal) so that it is no longer dangerous or fearful of human beings.
"Early agricultural societies learned how to tame wild horses for transport and farming."
To bring under control, subdue, or make more manageable (something powerful, unruly, or extreme).
"The central bank raised interest rates in a decisive effort to tame runaway inflation."
Word Nuance & Usage
When describing animals, 'tame' refers to an individual animal that has been accustomed to humans, whereas 'domesticated' refers to an entire species selectively bred over generations to live alongside humans.
• Rhymes for tame
Word Origin & Etymology
From Old English 'tam', of Proto-Germanic origin, sharing an ancient Indo-European root with the Latin verb 'domare' (meaning to subdue or break in), from which 'domesticate' and 'indomitable' are derived.