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sedate

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verb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word sedate different from other adjectives like it?

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

When might earnest be a better fit than sedate?

While in some cases nearly identical to sedate, earnest suggests sincerity or often zealousness of purpose.

an earnest reformer

In what contexts can grave take the place of sedate?

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

Where would serious be a reasonable alternative to sedate?

The synonyms serious and sedate are sometimes interchangeable, but serious implies a concern for what really matters.

a serious play about social injustice

When could sober be used to replace sedate?

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

When would solemn be a good substitute for sedate?

The meanings of solemn and sedate largely overlap; however, solemn suggests an impressive gravity utterly free from levity.

a sad and solemn occasion

When is staid a more appropriate choice than sedate?

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

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of sedate
Adjective
Last week, Japan announced a surprise snap election in which popular discontent with the governing LDP party following a widespread corruption scandal, twinned with a cost-of-living crisis, led to a dramatic result in the usually sedate Japanese political landscape. Steven Desmyter, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024 Her jewelry shifts from sedate heirlooms to big, bold costume pieces. Gavia Baker-Whitelaw, Vulture, 4 Nov. 2024
Verb
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 Buzbee also mentioned that many of his clients alleged that Diddy used horse tranquilizers to sedate them. Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 2 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for sedate 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sedate
Adjective
  • But less interesting doesn’t mean less impactful, as Foxx imbues with solemn reverence the emotional turmoil of re-learning to stand, walk, and clean himself.
    Lucy Ford, TIME, 10 Dec. 2024
  • The actors are prime, but the movie is a solemn affair that could use more grandeur.
    Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 6 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • The show’s continuing appeal hinges largely on Guralnik; her calm demeanor and sharp analytical framing guide the participants (and the audience) toward astute insights about their relationship patterns.
    Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 12 Dec. 2024
  • His calm demeanor has received a lot of attention on TikTok (@ohsosnoopy), gathering 408,500 views and 74,000 likes.
    Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • Most are unable to rise above the stylistic miasma of the production — Whitehead sounds narcotized even when Pip isn’t on drugs — or the entirely new words they’ve been asked to say.
    Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 24 Mar. 2023
  • The smartphone, for all its wonder and utility, has also proved to be a narcotizing agent.
    Derek Thompson, The Atlantic, 17 Dec. 2019
Adjective
  • Once at the hospital, it was determined that the serious injuries were not life-threatening, Booth said.
    Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 13 Dec. 2024
  • After debuting some serious acting chops in 2016’s Mr. Robot, Joey Bada$$ took a brief hiatus from music in 2019 to explore that outlet.
    Mackenzie Cummings-Grady, Billboard, 13 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • These healthy habits also help optimize the bedtime routine by eliminating stimulation and creating structure, which can help mitigate overwhelm and prepare you for a more serene morning.
    Jeanne Ballion, Vogue, 13 Dec. 2024
  • The only team with double figures of wins this season is Liverpool, who have stood out as a model of relatively serene stability, while most of those beneath them have thrashed about like fish on the deck of a ship.
    Nick Miller, The Athletic, 13 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • That might come as a surprise to some travelers, especially when the thought of relaxing can feel laughable after reckoning with airport’s infamous curbside gridlock.
    Chris Dong, Los Angeles Times, 11 Dec. 2024
  • Women’s styles include the Designer, an indigo balloon-sleeve bootcut jumpsuit with Hudson’s signature flap back pockets; the Collaborator, a black sleeveless relaxed straight coverall; and the Creator, a wide-leg indigo jumpsuit with a strapless sweetheart neckline.
    Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 11 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • Eldest children may create stern rules for their kids, such as a chore chart and strict bedtime routines.
    Alex Vance, Parents, 9 Dec. 2024
  • The speaker of the National Assembly read a stern statement on camera demanding that the president hold off a visit to the National Assembly until security matters are ironed out.
    Joohee Cho, ABC News, 7 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • The peaceful gathering quickly escalated into violent clashes as protesters and officers engaged in running altercations through the city's streets.
    Joseph Epstein, Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2024
  • The United Nations as Leviathan: Global Governance in the Post-American World Rich argues that the United Nations is the only body capable of generating a peaceful and cooperative order in the emerging post-American world.
    Kal Raustiala, Foreign Affairs, 10 Dec. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near sedate

Cite this Entry

“Sedate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sedate. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

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