Subdued
/səbˈduːd/
adjectiveverbB2past tense, past participle
Definition
Subdued as an adjective describes something or someone that is quiet, not strong, or controlled in feeling or appearance. It can describe soft colors, low sounds, or calm moods. As a verb (past tense of "subdue"), it means to make something less strong or to control it, often by force or effort.
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See It in Action
Quiet, calm, or low in intensity (adjective)
- •The room had subdued lighting, making it feel cozy.
- •Her voice was subdued after hearing the sad news.
- •The colors in the painting are subdued, mostly soft blues and grays.
Controlled or made less strong (verb - past tense of subdue)
- •The police subdued the protest quickly without violence.
- •He subdued his anger before speaking to avoid conflict.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "subdued" like "quiet," but more controlled and calm, not just silent
- ✓Picture a room with soft, low light and people speaking softly, not loudly or excitedly
- ✓It's the feeling when you try to stay calm even if you are upset inside
- ✓Sounds like "sub-DOOD" → imagine someone gently putting a lid on a pot to keep the steam down (to control or quiet it)
- ✓Think of a story where a firefighter subdued a fire, meaning they made it smaller and less dangerous
- ✓NOT like "loud" (strong and noisy), subdued is soft and less intense
- ✓NOT like "wild" (free and uncontrolled), subdued means controlled or held back
- ✓NOT like "excited" (strong emotion), subdued is calm or low emotion
Try Other Words
- •Calm: peaceful and without strong emotion (Use when focusing on peaceful feelings or atmosphere)
- •Soft: gentle in sound or color (Use when describing light, sound, or colors that are not strong)
- •Controlled: kept under control or limited (Use when emphasizing effort to keep something from being strong or wild)
- •Restrained: held back or limited (Use when talking about emotions or actions that are kept under control)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: prefix "sub-" (under, below) + root "due" (from Latin "ducere," meaning to lead or bring)
- •Etymology: From Latin "subdere," meaning to bring under or control
- •Historical development: Originally used to mean bringing something under control, later extended to describe quiet or low intensity states
- •Modern usage: Commonly used to describe quiet moods, soft colors, or the act of controlling or calming something
Reflect & Connect
•When is it helpful to be subdued instead of loud or excited? Can you think of times in your life when being subdued was better?
•How can the idea of being subdued apply to both feelings and physical things like light or sound?
Fill in the blanks
1.After the argument, his voice was subdued because he wanted to avoid ___ more conflict.
2.The artist chose subdued colors to create a ___ and calm mood in the painting.
3.The police quickly subdued the crowd to prevent the situation from ___ out of control.
4.She spoke in a subdued tone, showing she was feeling ___ and thoughtful.
5.Subdued lighting in a room usually helps people feel more ___ and relaxed.
6.When emotions are subdued, people often try to ___ their feelings instead of showing them.
7.Unlike loud music, subdued music is ___ and easy to listen to in quiet places.