subdued
Americanadjective
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quiet; inhibited; repressed; controlled.
After the argument he was much more subdued.
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lowered in intensity or strength; reduced in fullness of tone, as a color or voice; muted.
subdued light; wallpaper in subdued greens.
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(of land) not marked by any striking features, as mountains or cliffs.
a subdued landscape.
adjective
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cowed, passive, or shy
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gentle or quiet
a subdued whisper
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(of colours, etc) not harsh or bright
subdued lighting
Other Word Forms
- half-subdued adjective
- self-subdued adjective
- subduedly adverb
- subduedness noun
- unsubdued adjective
Etymology
Origin of subdued
Explanation
The adjective subdued refers to something, like a sound, that has a lowered intensity. Your loud conversation with a friend in the back of the classroom is likely to become subdued when the teacher passes out the exams. The word subdued is related to the Latin word, subdere, which means "to subtract from." Something that is subdued has lost some of its strength or intensity. Subdued lighting might create a romantic mood at a restaurant. And a subdued child is one who is no longer having a fit. A subdued economy is probably pretty sluggish.
Vocabulary lists containing subdued
"The Monkey's Paw" by W. W. Jacobs
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The SAT: Multiple-Meaning Words, List 6
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Monster
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Chinese liquor giant Kweichow Moutai reported a drop in annual profit and revenue for the first time ever, hurt by subdued consumption in China and as the company prioritized price stability over growth.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026
Mr. Cheadle matches the subdued gravity of Ms. Edebiri’s turn, although his tender solicitude has an affecting paternal pride and warmth.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026
“In our Roaring 2020s base case scenario, strong productivity gains will keep unit labor costs subdued in 2026,” Yardeni writes.
From Barron's • Apr. 15, 2026
A subdued economy makes the trade-offs and choices over public spending more difficult.
From BBC • Apr. 15, 2026
Lexie herself was back at school, wan and somewhat subdued and with dark rings under her eyes, but upright.
From "Little Fires Everywhere" by Celeste Ng
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
