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.
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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
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