subdued
Americanadjective
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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
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(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
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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.
The recent subdued action in crude belies a bigger problem brewing in refined products such as gasoline, diesel and jet fuel.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 16, 2026
At the point the light became muted and subdued, and the noise from the crowd softened as they took in the spectacle.
From BBC ● Aug. 12, 2026
A subdued inflation report on Wednesday, alongside a deal to reopen Hormuz, could “feed through into lower gasoline prices and keep the disinflation trend in place through to year-end and beyond.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026
Next attributed the results to warmer weather, the release of some pent-up demand in the Middle East and Northern Europe after a subdued first quarter, and a higher profitable marketing spend.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 5, 2026
She seemed a little subdued, but Grandpa was greeting everybody.
From "Cold Sassy Tree" by Olive Ann Burns
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.
