sedate

1 of 2

adjective

se·​date si-ˈdāt How to pronounce sedate (audio)
: keeping a quiet steady attitude or pace : unruffled
sedately adverb
sedateness noun

sedate

2 of 2

verb

sedated; sedating

transitive verb

: to dose with sedatives
Choose the Right Synonym for sedate

serious, grave, solemn, sedate, staid, sober, earnest mean not light or frivolous.

serious implies a concern for what really matters.

a serious play about social injustice

grave implies both seriousness and dignity in expression or attitude.

read the proclamation in a grave voice

solemn suggests an impressive gravity utterly free from levity.

a sad and solemn occasion

sedate implies a composed and decorous seriousness.

remained sedate amid the commotion

staid suggests a settled, accustomed sedateness and prim self-restraint.

a quiet and staid community

sober stresses seriousness of purpose and absence of levity or frivolity.

a sober look at the state of our schools

earnest suggests sincerity or often zealousness of purpose.

an earnest reformer

Examples of sedate in a Sentence

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
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Adjective
In 2022, tech billionaire Larry Ellison put his compound in the sedate Seminole Landing enclave on the market for $145 million. Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 21 Oct. 2024 The sparse crowd in the normally sedate surroundings of the Dubai terraces made of mostly jubilant South African fans let out a triumphant roar and their party was just getting started. Tristan Lavalette, Forbes, 18 Oct. 2024
Verb
Her research entailed working with rhinos that had been sedated and fitted with radio collars, a process so stressful that some females slowed their reproduction or miscarried; meanwhile, local trackers mocked her fancy receivers. Ben Goldfarb, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Oct. 2024 Worried Lois would discover what had happened to him, Virginia then sedated her mother with the same medication before killing her by beating her with a hammer and stabbing her several times. Bailey Richards, People.com, 12 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for sedate 

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of sedate was in 1663

Dictionary Entries Near sedate

Cite this Entry

“Sedate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sedate. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

sedate

adjective
se·​date
si-ˈdāt
: quiet in manner or conduct : staid, sober
sedately adverb
sedateness noun

Medical Definition

sedate

transitive verb
se·​date si-ˈdāt How to pronounce sedate (audio)
sedated; sedating
: to dose with sedatives
the patient was sedated before the procedure

More from Merriam-Webster on sedate

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!