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definitions

subdued

[suh b-dood, -dyood]
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adjective

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.

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RELATED WORDS

unobtrusive, solemn, sober, mellow, low-key, restrained, muted, dim, dejected, shaded, domesticated, grave, chastened, tempered, moderated, repressed, crestfallen, domestic, downcast, neutral

Nearby words

  1. subduce,
  2. subduct,
  3. subduction,
  4. subduction zone,
  5. subdue,
  6. subduedly,
  7. subdural,
  8. subdural hemorrhage,
  9. subdural space,
  10. subedit

Origin of subdued

First recorded in 1595–1605; subdue + -ed2
Related forms

subdue

[suhb-doo, -dyoo]

verb (used with object), sub·dued, sub·du·ing.

to conquer and bring into subjection: Rome subdued Gaul.
to overpower by superior force; overcome.
to bring under mental or emotional control, as by persuasion or intimidation; render submissive.
to repress (feelings, impulses, etc.).
to bring (land) under cultivation: to subdue the wilderness.
to reduce the intensity, force, or vividness of (sound, light, color, etc.); tone down; soften.
to allay (inflammation, infection, etc.).

Origin of subdue

1350–1400; Middle English so(b)duen, so(b)dewen < Anglo-French *soduer to overcome, Old French soduire to deceive, seduce < Latin subdūcere to withdraw (see subduct); meaning in E (and Anglo-French) < Latin subdere to place beneath, subdue
ANTONYMS FOR subdue
4. awaken, arouse. 6. intensify.
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Related forms

Synonym study

1. See defeat.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for subdued

British Dictionary definitions for subdued

subdued

adjective

cowed, passive, or shy
gentle or quieta subdued whisper
(of colours, etc) not harsh or brightsubdued lighting
Derived Formssubduedly, adverbsubduedness, noun

subdue

verb -dues, -duing or -dued (tr)

to establish ascendancy over by force
to overcome and bring under control, as by intimidation or persuasion
to hold in check or repress (feelings, emotions, etc)
to render less intense or less conspicuous
Derived Formssubduable, adjectivesubduably, adverbsubdual, noun

Word Origin for subdue

C14 sobdue, from Old French soduire to mislead, from Latin subdūcere to remove; English sense influenced by Latin subdere to subject
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for subdued
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper