sedate
1 of 2adjective
se·date si-ˈdāt 
: keeping a quiet steady attitude or pace : unruffled
sedately adverb
sedateness noun
sedate
2 of 2verb
sedated; sedating
transitive verb
: to dose with sedatives
Synonyms
Adjective
- earnest
- grave
- humorless
- no-nonsense
- po-faced [British]
- serious
- severe
- sober
- sobersided
- solemn
- staid
- uncomic
- unsmiling
- weighty
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Adjective We walked the beach at a sedate pace. He remained sedate under pressure. Verb The doctor sedated the patient heavily.
Recent Examples on the Web
Timothy Fanning, San Antonio Express-News, 7 Sep. 2022 As president, Biden has tried to steer US politics back to its more sedate ways. Frida Ghitis, CNN, 2 Sep. 2022 Tempers rarely run high in Japan’s famously sedate politics. New York Times, 8 July 2022 Tempers rarely run high in Japan’s famously sedate politics. Daisuke Wakabayashi, BostonGlobe.com, 8 July 2022 There are more sedate -- and indeed more extreme -- cycling experiences to be had in Abu Dhabi. Barry Neild, CNN, 14 July 2022 But for those who just want riding lessons, the pace is much more sedate. Nadia Leigh-hewitson, CNN, 11 July 2022 Your closet is sedate but not boring, prioritizing texture over color, and perfectly cut. Zoe Dubno, Vogue, 16 June 2022 Shell’s succinct comments about Peacock’s advertiser-friendly status were downright sedate compared what came from deputy Linda Yaccarino. Mikey O'connell, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 May 2022 Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2022 Inspired in part by the essays of science-fiction writer Ray Bradbury, the architect Jon Jerde began designing spaces that were more like world’s fairs and theme parks than the orderly, sedate shopping centers of previous decades. Jillian Steinhauer, The New Republic, 22 Aug. 2022 There is little action and only muted suspense, yet in each case the habitually sedate pace becomes oddly hypnotic. Anna Mundow, WSJ, 26 Aug. 2022 Records show police found evidence that Cruse used both prescription and over-the-counter medication to sedate and overdose the two girls. Sam Burdette, The Arizona Republic, 20 Aug. 2022 Initially, the plan had been to sedate the bear and move it to safety, according to authorities. Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 23 June 2022 The DJs kept the music sedate as Avalon turned into a large support group. Steve Adelman, Rolling Stone, 18 Aug. 2022 Some patients became hysterical, prompting staff to sedate them. WSJ, 14 Aug. 2022 The department is going to try to catch the bear, sedate it and then tag it. CBS News, 2 Aug. 2022 See More
Adjective
For 39 years, the sound of calliope pipes mingled with the shrieks from the twisting Zoomer and the creaky sound of the more sedate Ferris Wheel until San Antonio's oldest amusement park at the time closed its gates in September 1980. Timothy Fanning, San Antonio Express-News, 7 Sep. 2022 As president, Biden has tried to steer US politics back to its more sedate ways. Frida Ghitis, CNN, 2 Sep. 2022 Tempers rarely run high in Japan’s famously sedate politics. New York Times, 8 July 2022 Tempers rarely run high in Japan’s famously sedate politics. Daisuke Wakabayashi, BostonGlobe.com, 8 July 2022 There are more sedate -- and indeed more extreme -- cycling experiences to be had in Abu Dhabi. Barry Neild, CNN, 14 July 2022 But for those who just want riding lessons, the pace is much more sedate. Nadia Leigh-hewitson, CNN, 11 July 2022 Your closet is sedate but not boring, prioritizing texture over color, and perfectly cut. Zoe Dubno, Vogue, 16 June 2022 Shell’s succinct comments about Peacock’s advertiser-friendly status were downright sedate compared what came from deputy Linda Yaccarino. Mikey O'connell, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 May 2022 Verb
Drivers will know they’ve been victimized when a once-sedate sedan suddenly roars like a cross between a lawn mower and a race car. Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2022 Inspired in part by the essays of science-fiction writer Ray Bradbury, the architect Jon Jerde began designing spaces that were more like world’s fairs and theme parks than the orderly, sedate shopping centers of previous decades. Jillian Steinhauer, The New Republic, 22 Aug. 2022 There is little action and only muted suspense, yet in each case the habitually sedate pace becomes oddly hypnotic. Anna Mundow, WSJ, 26 Aug. 2022 Records show police found evidence that Cruse used both prescription and over-the-counter medication to sedate and overdose the two girls. Sam Burdette, The Arizona Republic, 20 Aug. 2022 Initially, the plan had been to sedate the bear and move it to safety, according to authorities. Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 23 June 2022 The DJs kept the music sedate as Avalon turned into a large support group. Steve Adelman, Rolling Stone, 18 Aug. 2022 Some patients became hysterical, prompting staff to sedate them. WSJ, 14 Aug. 2022 The department is going to try to catch the bear, sedate it and then tag it. CBS News, 2 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Adjective
Latin sedatus, from past participle of sedare to calm; akin to sedēre to sit — more at sit
Verb
back-formation from sedative
First Known Use
Adjective
1663, in the meaning defined above
Verb
1945, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
sedate
adjective
se·date si-ˈdāt
: quiet and steady in manner or conduct
Medical Definition
sedate
transitive verb
se·date si-ˈdāt
sedated; sedating
: to dose with sedatives
the patient was sedated before the procedure
sedate 1 of 2
adjective
1
as in solemn
not joking or playful in mood or manner while not exactly cold, the doctor does maintain a sedate and purely professional demeanor with his patients Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- solemn
- staid
- serious
- stern
- sober
- unsmiling
- earnest
- humorless
- po-faced
- distinguished
- professional
- businesslike
- uncomic
- no-nonsense
- strict
- severe
- harsh
- dignified
- weighty
- sobersided
- grave
- grim
- serious-minded
- gloomy
- elevated
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- playful
- humorous
- jocular
- kittenish
- flippant
- riotous
- facetious
- droll
- comical
- light
- joking
- funny
- flip
- lighthearted
- hysterical
- hysteric
- ludic
- antic
- comic
- ridiculous
- ludicrous
- hilarious
- frivolous
- farcical
- screaming
- uproarious
- flighty
- goofy
- laughable
- risible
- puerile
- scatterbrained
- jesting
- zany
- foolish
- insane
- whacky
- mad
- nutty
- unwise
- harebrained
- balmy
- silly
- daffy
- crazy
- wacky
- preposterous
- absurd
- cockeyed
- brainless
- kooky
- light-headed
- witless
- jerky
- featherbrained
- loony
- sidesplitting
- dotty
- sappy
- fatuous
- daft
- lunatic
- nonsensical
- cuckoo
- asinine
- senseless
- screwball
- kookie
- half-witted
- looney
- weak-minded
2
as in calm
free from emotional or mental agitation her expression remained sedate as I told her the bad news Synonyms & Similar Words
- calm
- serene
- peaceful
- placid
- composed
- tranquil
- collected
- unruffled
- unperturbed
- smooth
- unworried
- mellow
- steady
- undisturbed
- possessed
- relaxed
- at peace
- cool
- untroubled
- together
- recollected
- limpid
- coolheaded
- confident
- level
- nonchalant
- self-possessed
- centered
- relieved
- unshaken
- self-composed
- imperturbable
- equal
- tranquilized
- detached
- unflappable
- equable
- easygoing
- sober
- carefree
- tranquillized
- phlegmatic
- laid-back
- nerveless
- dispassionate
- disciplined
- even-keeled
- affable
- breezy
- even
- aloof
- well-balanced
- unconcerned
- stolid
- assured
- well-adjusted
- unshakable
- self-controlled
- impassive
- indifferent
- bovine
- happy-go-lucky
- devil-may-care
- loosey-goosey
- self-assured
- self-contained
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- agitated
- perturbed
- disturbed
- upset
- anxious
- flustered
- distressed
- discomposed
- uneasy
- restless
- nervous
- jittery
- unsettled
- bothered
- unstrung
- unhinged
- worried
- unglued
- jumpy
- tense
- unquiet
- skittish
- uptight
- unstable
- high-strung
sedate
2 of 2verb
as in to narcotize
Synonyms & Similar Words
- narcotize
- stupefy
- relax
- calm
- ease
- quiet
- relieve
- pacify
- allay
- mitigate
- solace
- alleviate
- placate
- assuage
- tranquilize
- mollify
- quell
- hush
- appease
- lull
- lay
- conciliate
- tranquillize
- quieten
- soothe
- lullaby
- still
- compose
- salve
- becalm
- settle
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- disturb
- perturb
- upset
- agitate
- vex
- intensify
- heighten
- aggravate
- discompose
- key (up)
- rouse
- disquiet
- incite
- excite
- stir (up)
- arouse
- foment
- work up
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of sedate are earnest, grave, serious, sober, solemn, and staid. While all these words mean "not light or frivolous," sedate implies a composed and decorous seriousness.
remained sedate amid the commotion
While in some cases nearly identical to sedate, earnest suggests sincerity or often zealousness of purpose.
an earnest reformer
The words grave and sedate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, grave implies both seriousness and dignity in expression or attitude.
read the proclamation in a grave voice
The synonyms serious and sedate are sometimes interchangeable, but serious implies a concern for what really matters.
a serious play about social injustice
In some situations, the words sober and sedate are roughly equivalent. However, sober stresses seriousness of purpose and absence of levity or frivolity.
a sober look at the state of our schools
The meanings of solemn and sedate largely overlap; however, solemn suggests an impressive gravity utterly free from levity.
a sad and solemn occasion
While the synonyms staid and sedate are close in meaning, staid suggests a settled, accustomed sedateness and prim self-restraint.
a quiet and staid community