subdued
Americanadjective
-
quiet; inhibited; repressed; controlled.
After the argument he was much more subdued.
-
lowered in intensity or strength; reduced in fullness of tone, as a color or voice; muted.
subdued light; wallpaper in subdued greens.
-
(of land) not marked by any striking features, as mountains or cliffs.
a subdued landscape.
adjective
-
cowed, passive, or shy
-
gentle or quiet
a subdued whisper
-
(of colours, etc) not harsh or bright
subdued lighting
Other Word Forms
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
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The SAT: Multiple-Meaning Words, List 6
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Monster
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
These subdued the psychosis but produced a mental fog that affected his ability to work and demoralized him profoundly.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026
In its second-quarter earnings report this week, the bank said origination volumes were subdued after it saw significant competition for real-estate debt deals.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026
At the scene on Tuesday morning, BBC News NI's Kelly Bonner said the area was subdued.
From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026
This rare fossil, with its embedded tooth preserved for millions of years, provides another valuable piece of evidence about how the iconic predator may have hunted and subdued its prey.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 14, 2026
When he spoke again, his voice was low, tense, subdued.
From "The Chosen" by Chaim Potok
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.
