Subdued — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective verb /səb-ˈdüd/ sub·dued

Meaning & Definition of Subdued

Subdued (adjective)

  1. lacking in vitality, intensity, or strength

Subdued (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. not excessively showy

    "the wedding was a subdued affair, with only close family and friends attending"

    similar: conservative, low-key, muted, quiet, repressed, restrained, sober, toned-down, understated, unflashy, unpretentious
    related: appropriate, becoming, fit, fitting, proper, suitable, modest, plain, simple, unadorned, undecorated, inconspicuous, unnoticeable, unobtrusive, graceful, handsome, refined, tasteful, drab, mousy, practical, sensible
    opposite: flamboyant, flaring, flashy, garish, gaudy, glitzy, loud, noisy, ostentatious, razzle-dazzle, splashy, swank
    near: meretricious, graceless, inelegant, tacky, tasteless, tawdry, trashy, vulgar, baroque, fancy, frilly, gilded, ornate, rococo, overdecorated, overdone, overwrought

Subdued (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to achieve a victory over

    "subdued her fear of the dark by joining a club for spelunkers"

    similar: beat, bested, conquered, defeated, did down (British), dispatched, got, got around, licked, mastered, overbore, overcame, overmatched, prevailed (over), skunked, stopped, surmounted, took, trimmed, triumphed (over), upended, won (against), worsted, got the better of, knocked for a loop
    related: swept, edged (out), nosed out, pipped (British), annihilated, blew away, blew out, bombed, broke, buried, clobbered, creamed, crushed, drubbed, finished, flattened, overwhelmed, routed, shellacked, skinned, slaughtered, smoked (slang), snowed under, thrashed, trounced, upset, walloped, waxed (slang), whipped, capped, excelled, flourished, scored, succeeded, knocked off, knocked over, overpowered, overthrew, subjugated, unseated, vanquished, aced (out), bettered, eclipsed, exceeded, outdid, outdistanced, outfought, outshone, outstripped, overtopped, surpassed, topped, transcended
    opposite: lost (to)
    near: fell, gave up, went down, went under, collapsed, failed, flopped, flunked, folded, washed out

  2. to bring under one's control by force of arms

    "subdued the rebels and sent their leaders to the gallows"

    similar: conquered, dominated, overpowered, pacified, subjected, subjugated, subordinated, vanquished
    related: annihilated, beat, clobbered, crushed, defeated, drubbed, licked, mowed (down), overcame, prevailed (over), reduced, routed, skunked, smashed, thrashed, triumphed (over), trounced, walloped, whipped, enslaved, broke, clamped down (on), cracked down (on), put down, quashed, quelled, repressed, silenced, smothered, snuffed (out), squashed, squelched, suppressed
    near: discharged, emancipated, enfranchised, freed, liberated, manumitted, released, sprang, unbound, uncaged, unchained, unfettered

  3. to put a stop to (something) by the use of force

    "labored through the night to subdue the river's rising waters by building a wall of sandbags around their property"

    similar: clamped down (on), cracked down (on), crushed, put down, quashed, quelled, repressed, silenced, slapped down, snuffed (out), squashed, squelched, suppressed, sat on
    related: doused, extinguished, put out, quenched, smothered, stifled, strangled, throttled, annihilated, decimated, demolished, desolated, destroyed, devastated, nuked, rubbed out, ruined, smashed, wasted, wrecked, exterminated, obliterated, wiped out, conquered, dominated, overcame, overpowered, overwhelmed, subjugated, vanquished
    near: abetted, aided, assisted, backed, helped, propped up, supported, fomented, incited, instigated, provoked, stirred, whipped (up), advanced, cultivated, encouraged, forwarded, fostered, furthered, nourished, nurtured, promoted

Related Entry: Subdue (verb)

Subdue is a different word from Subdued. The synonyms below are for subdue, not for subdued.

  1. to achieve a victory over

    "subdued her fear of the dark by joining a club for spelunkers"

    similar: beat, best, conquer, defeat, dispatch, do down (British), get, get around, lick, master, overbear, overcome, overmatch, prevail (over), skunk, stop, surmount, take, trim, triumph (over), upend, win (against), worst, get the better of, knock for a loop
    related: sweep, edge (out), nose out, pip (British), annihilate, blow away, blow out, bomb, break, bury, clobber, cream, crush, drub, finish, flatten, overwhelm, rout, shellac, skin, slaughter, smoke (slang), snow under, thrash, trounce, upset, wallop, wax (slang), whip, cap, excel, flourish, score, succeed, knock off, knock over, overpower, overthrow, subjugate, unseat, vanquish, ace (out), better, eclipse, exceed, outdistance, outdo, outfight, outshine, outstrip, overtop, surpass, top, transcend
    opposite: lose (to)
    near: fall, give up, go down, go under, collapse, fail, flop, flunk, fold, wash out

  2. to bring under one's control by force of arms

    "subdued the rebels and sent their leaders to the gallows"

    similar: conquer, dominate, overpower, pacify, subject, subjugate, subordinate, vanquish
    related: annihilate, beat, clobber, crush, defeat, drub, lick, mow (down), overcome, prevail (over), reduce, rout, skunk, smash, thrash, triumph (over), trounce, wallop, whip, enslave, break, clamp down (on), crack down (on), put down, quash, quell, repress, silence, smother, snuff (out), squash, squelch, suppress
    near: discharge, emancipate, enfranchise, free, liberate, manumit, release, spring, unbind, uncage, unchain, unfetter

  3. to put a stop to (something) by the use of force

    "labored through the night to subdue the river's rising waters by building a wall of sandbags around their property"

    similar: clamp down (on), crack down (on), crush, put down, quash, quell, repress, silence, slap down, snuff (out), squash, squelch, suppress, sit on
    related: douse, extinguish, put out, quench, smother, stifle, strangle, throttle, annihilate, decimate, demolish, desolate, destroy, devastate, nuke, rub out, ruin, smash, waste, wreck, exterminate, obliterate, wipe out, conquer, dominate, overcome, overpower, overwhelm, subjugate, vanquish
    near: abet, aid, assist, back, help, prop up, support, foment, incite, instigate, provoke, stir, whip (up), advance, cultivate, encourage, forward, foster, further, nourish, nurture, promote

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Subdued

The most common words with a similar meaning to Subdued:

British: did down
conservative, low-key, muted, quiet, repressed, restrained, sober, toned-down, understated, unflashy, unpretentious, beat, bested, conquered, defeated, dispatched, got, got around, licked, mastered, overbore, overcame, overmatched, prevailed (over), skunked, stopped, surmounted, took, trimmed, triumphed (over), upended, won (against), worsted, dominated, overpowered, pacified, subjected, subjugated, subordinated, vanquished

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Subdued

Words with the opposite meaning of Subdued:

flamboyant, flaring, flashy, garish, gaudy, glitzy, loud, noisy, ostentatious, razzle-dazzle, splashy, swank, lost (to)

Related Words for Subdued

appropriate, becoming, fit, fitting, proper, suitable, modest, plain, simple, unadorned, undecorated, inconspicuous, unnoticeable, unobtrusive, graceful, handsome, refined, tasteful, drab, mousy, practical, sensible, swept, edged (out), nosed out, pipped, annihilated, blew away, blew out, bombed

Near Antonyms of Subdued

meretricious, graceless, inelegant, tacky, tasteless, tawdry, trashy, vulgar, baroque, fancy, frilly, gilded, ornate, rococo, overdecorated, overdone, overwrought, fell, gave up, went down, went under, collapsed, failed, flopped, flunked, folded, washed out, discharged, emancipated, enfranchised

Word Forms of Subdued

Derived words: subduedly (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Subdued

First known use: 1785

Frequently Asked Questions about Subdued

What does "Subdued" mean?

"Subdued" means lacking in vitality, intensity, or strength. As an an adjective and a verb, it is defined as: lacking in vitality, intensity, or strength. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Subdued"?

Other words for "Subdued" include conservative, low-key, muted, quiet, repressed, restrained, sober and toned-down. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Subdued" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Subdued"?

There are 153 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Subdued". Common alternatives include conservative, low-key, muted, quiet, repressed, restrained, sober, toned-down, understated and unflashy.

What is the opposite of "Subdued"?

Antonyms of "Subdued" include flamboyant, flaring, flashy, garish, gaudy, glitzy, loud and noisy. Near antonyms include meretricious, graceless, inelegant and tacky.

How do you use "Subdued" in a sentence?

Examples of "Subdued" in a sentence: "the wedding was a subdued affair, with only close family and friends attending"; "subdued her fear of the dark by joining a club for spelunkers"; "subdued the rebels and sent their leaders to the gallows".

Is "Subdued" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Subdued" can be used as an adjective and a verb, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Subdued"?

"Subdued" is pronounced /səb-ˈdüd/ and divided into syllables as sub·dued.

What is the origin of the word "Subdued"?

First known use: 1785.