Standard Lemma guide

subdued

adj · verb · 9 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • General-American: /səbˈdud/
  • Received-Pronunciation: /səbˈdjuːd/
  • rhymes with -uːd
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: S AH0 B D UW1 D Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Conquered; overpowered; crushed; submissive.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • He is subdued after the disagreement last night.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adj

Meaning 2

Not glaring in color; soft and light in tone.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • The colour scheme used for this room is subdued.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

adj

Meaning 3

Reduced in intensity or strength; toned down.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

simple past and past participle of subdue

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: form-of, participle, past

Examples

  • He subdued the dog yesterday.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

adjective satellite

Meaning 5

lacking in light; not bright or harsh

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • a dim light beside the bed
  • subdued lights and soft music

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: dim

Antonyms: none provided

6

adjective satellite

Meaning 6

not brilliant or glaring

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • the moon cast soft shadows
  • soft pastel colors
  • subdued lighting

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: soft

Antonyms: none provided

7

adjective satellite

Meaning 7

in a softened tone

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • hushed voices
  • muted trumpets
  • a subdued whisper
  • a quiet reprimand

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: hushed, muted, quiet

Antonyms: none provided

8

adjective satellite

Meaning 8

restrained in style or quality

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • a little masterpiece of low-keyed eloquence

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: low-key, low-keyed

Antonyms: none provided

9

adjective satellite

Meaning 9

quieted and brought under control

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • children were subdued and silent

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

55 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: подтиснат (podtisnat) — Conquered; overpowered; crushed; submissive; mild
  • Bulgarian: подчинен (podčinen) — Conquered; overpowered; crushed; submissive; mild
  • Dutch: ingehouden — Conquered; overpowered; crushed; submissive; mild
  • Dutch: ingetogen — Conquered; overpowered; crushed; submissive; mild
  • Finnish: kukistettu — Conquered; overpowered; crushed; submissive; mild
  • Finnish: päihitetty — Conquered; overpowered; crushed; submissive; mild
  • Finnish: lyöty — Conquered; overpowered; crushed; submissive; mild
  • German: gedämpft — Conquered; overpowered; crushed; submissive; mild
  • German: bedrückt — Conquered; overpowered; crushed; submissive; mild
  • German: gehorsam — Conquered; overpowered; crushed; submissive; mild
  • German: kleinlaut — Conquered; overpowered; crushed; submissive; mild
  • German: matt — Conquered; overpowered; crushed; submissive; mild
  • German: verhalten — Conquered; overpowered; crushed; submissive; mild
  • German: besiegt — Conquered; overpowered; crushed; submissive; mild
  • German: niedergeschlagen — Conquered; overpowered; crushed; submissive; mild
  • German: still — Conquered; overpowered; crushed; submissive; mild
  • German: unterdrückt — Conquered; overpowered; crushed; submissive; mild
  • German: unterwarfen — Conquered; overpowered; crushed; submissive; mild
  • German: zurückhaltend — Conquered; overpowered; crushed; submissive; mild
  • Hungarian: legyőzött — Conquered; overpowered; crushed; submissive; mild
  • Hungarian: levert — Conquered; overpowered; crushed; submissive; mild
  • Hungarian: leigázott — Conquered; overpowered; crushed; submissive; mild
  • Hungarian: lesújtott — Conquered; overpowered; crushed; submissive; mild
  • Occitan: assubjectit — Conquered; overpowered; crushed; submissive; mild
  • Occitan: somés — Conquered; overpowered; crushed; submissive; mild
  • Occitan: subjugat — Conquered; overpowered; crushed; submissive; mild
  • Occitan: conquistat — Conquered; overpowered; crushed; submissive; mild
  • Persian: تصرف شده — Conquered; overpowered; crushed; submissive; mild
  • Spanish: apagado — Conquered; overpowered; crushed; submissive; mild
  • Spanish: sometido — Conquered; overpowered; crushed; submissive; mild
  • Spanish: doblegado — Conquered; overpowered; crushed; submissive; mild
  • Spanish: domeñado — Conquered; overpowered; crushed; submissive; mild
  • Spanish: debelado — Conquered; overpowered; crushed; submissive; mild
  • Spanish: sojuzgado — Conquered; overpowered; crushed; submissive; mild
  • Bulgarian: приглушен (priglušen) — Not glaring in color; soft in tone
  • Dutch: gedempt — Not glaring in color; soft in tone
  • Finnish: hillitty — Not glaring in color; soft in tone
  • German: dezent — Not glaring in color; soft in tone
  • German: mild — Not glaring in color; soft in tone
  • German: sanft — Not glaring in color; soft in tone
  • German: weich — Not glaring in color; soft in tone
  • German: gedeckt — Not glaring in color; soft in tone
  • German: leise — Not glaring in color; soft in tone
  • German: matt — Not glaring in color; soft in tone
  • German: unterdrückt — Not glaring in color; soft in tone
  • Hungarian: letompított — Not glaring in color; soft in tone
  • Hungarian: félhomályos — Not glaring in color; soft in tone
  • Hungarian: tompa — Not glaring in color; soft in tone
  • Hungarian: halk — Not glaring in color; soft in tone
  • Hungarian: szelíd — Not glaring in color; soft in tone
  • Japanese: 地味 (jimi) — Not glaring in color; soft in tone
  • Persian: خفیف (xafif) — Not glaring in color; soft in tone
  • Russian: приглушённый (priglušónnyj) — Not glaring in color; soft in tone
  • Spanish: apagado — Not glaring in color; soft in tone
  • Swedish: dämpad — Not glaring in color; soft in tone