sedate

American  

[si-deyt] / sɪˈdeɪt /

adjective

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

   a sedate party;

   a sedate horse.

   Synonyms:

   unperturbed, unruffled, serene, collected

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verb (used with object)

sedated, sedating

1. to put (a person) under sedation.

sedate ¹ British  

/ sɪˈdeɪt /

adjective

1. habitually calm and composed in manner; serene

2. staid, sober, or decorous

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sedate ² British  

/ sɪˈdeɪt /

verb

1. (tr) to administer a sedative to

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Related Words

See staid.

Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of sedate

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

Example Sentences

In the low-key and sedate drama “Midwinter Break,” a married couple who have been together a very long time treat each other with nothing but love, tenderness and respect.

From The Wall Street Journal

The overarching mood is more sedate than scintillating; the word “bittersweet” comes up a lot.

From The Wall Street Journal

Officers searched him and found two emaciated and potentially sedated orange-fronted parakeets — the victims of an alleged botched smuggling attempt — stuffed in his underwear, according to court documents.

From Los Angeles Times

The best-performing cruise stock recently had been Viking, which specializes in more intimate and sedate river cruises.

From The Wall Street Journal

Distinguished by different hairdos and contrasting body language, Douglas, who can will himself to appear sedate, and James, who’s in a continual manic spiral, have more in common than either would care to admit.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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