Sedate

/sɪˈdeɪt/ · adjective

Meaning

Of a person or animal, or their behaviour: calm and composed (often in a dignified manner), and avoiding or unaffected by activity or excitement..

Definitions by Sense

1. Of a person or animal, or their behaviour: calm and composed (often in a dignified manner), and avoiding or unaffected by activity or excitement.
2. Of an object, particularly a building: not overly ornate or showy; not having a strong colour or design.
3. Of writing: not emotional; calm, composed.
4. Of one's mind, thoughts, etc.: calm, sober.
5. Of an object: not moving; at rest, quiet, still; also, moving smoothly and steadily.
6. (medicine) To give (a person) a sedative to calm them or put them to sleep; to tranquilize.
7. (obsolete) To make (someone or something) calm or tranquil; to assuage, to calm, to soothe.

Example Sentences

[I]f they vvill raſhly huddle up all together, and not admitting the leaſt check of a ſedate judgement, publiſh onely the impetuous dictates of their indiſcreet and too precipitant fancie, either yielding nothing, or ſuffering a licentious practice of all things; vve muſt put them in mind of that State Maxime, vvhich is too often made good by the ruine of a Church, […] Dangerous is that ſeverity, impious that bounty, vvhere to a Chriſtian militant either all things are granted, or nothing permitted in the doubtfull and diſtracted condition of a Church.

But vvhen […] vvilfulneſs [in a child] evidently ſhevvs it ſelf, and makes Blovvs neceſſary, I think the Chaſtiſement ſhould be a little more Sedate and a little more Severe, […]

Virgil vvas of a quiet, ſedate Temper; Homer vvas violent, impetuous, and full of Fire.

But the Matter vvas yet infinitely vvorſe (I record it vvith Tears) vvhen he proceeded to the Embroidery: For, being Clumſy by Nature, and of Temper, Impatient; vvithal, beholding Millions of Stitches, that required the niceſt Hand, and ſedateſt Conſtitution, to extricate; in a great Rage, he tore off the vvhole Piece, Cloth and all, […]

But vvho like thee can boaſt a Soul sedate, / So firmly Proof to all the Shocks of Fate?

The animadverſions of critics are commonly ſuch as may eaſily provoke the ſedateſt vvriter to ſome quickneſs of reſentment and aſperity of reply.

He vvas about forty-eight—of a ſedate look, ſomething approaching to gravity.

Jane [Bennet] looked a little paler than usual, but more sedate than Elizabeth had expected. On the gentlemen's appearing, her colour increased; yet she received them with tolerable ease, and with a propriety of behaviour equally free from any symptom of resentment, or any unnecessary complaisance.

Synonyms for sedate

Antonyms for sedate

Related Words

Word Forms

• more sedate
• sedater
• most sedate
• sedatest
• sedates
• sedating
• sedated

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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