sedate

[si-deyt]

adjective

1. calm, quiet, or composed; undisturbed by passion or excitement.

   a sedate party;

   a sedate horse.

   Synonyms: unperturbed, unruffled, serene, collected

verb (used with object)

sedated, sedating 

1. to put (a person) under sedation.

sedate

¹

/ sɪˈdeɪt /

adjective

1. habitually calm and composed in manner; serene

2. staid, sober, or decorous

sedate

²

/ sɪˈdeɪt /

verb

1. (tr) to administer a sedative to

Other Word Forms

• sedately adverb
• sedateness noun
• unsedate adjective
• unsedately adverb
• unsedateness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of sedate¹

First recorded in 1640–50; from Latin sēdātus (past participle of sēdāre “to allay, quieten”); akin to sedēre “to sit”; sit ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of sedate¹

C17: from Latin sēdāre to soothe; related to sedēre to sit

Origin of sedate²

C20: back formation from _sedative

Synonym Study

See staid.

Example Sentences

They are also highly sensitive to anaesthesia and so cannot be kept sedated for long, a result of their unique build -- "the heart to the brain is quite long," Mijele explained.

Read more on Barron's

Though the outcomes encoded here are colored by midcentury manners, they are surprisingly daring and averse to sedate moralism.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

I was completely sedated for my previous births, which was the mode of the day, but by the time Sofia was born times had changed, and I was awake and so completely and utterly thrilled!

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The dog was sedated, removed from the property and taken to a vet where it was put down.

Read more on BBC

The latter had her own thoughts about the pair’s interview, accusing Ka’oir on X of sedating the “I Get the Bag” artist.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• decorous 
• dignified 
• laid-back 
• placid 
• quiet 
• serene 
• sober 
• solemn 
• somber 
• staid 
• tranquil 
• unflappable