sedate
8 synonyms and 1 antonym for sedate, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Calm, unhurried, and dignified in manner.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. adj
Calm, unhurried, and dignified in manner.
“The retirement home had a sedate, peaceful atmosphere.”
2. verb
To give someone a drug that calms them or makes them sleep.
“The vet sedated the dog before the X-ray.”
Opposites
How to use sedate
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
sedate atmosphere
sedate the patient
heavily sedated
Etymology
From Latin sedatus, "calmed, settled," from sedare, "to calm" — ultimately from the same root as "sit."
Full origin of sedate →Frequently asked questions
What does “sedate” mean?
The word “sedate” means calm, unhurried, and dignified in manner. In plain terms, calm and composed — or, as a verb, to make someone calm through medication.
How do you pronounce “sedate”?
“Sedate” is pronounced sih-DAYT (/səˈdeɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “sedate” in a sentence?
Here is “sedate” used in a sentence: “The retirement home had a sedate, peaceful atmosphere.”
What part of speech is “sedate”?
Depending on how it is used, “sedate” can be an adjective and a verb.
Where does the word “sedate” come from?
The word “sedate” comes from Latin. From Latin sedatus, "calmed, settled," from sedare, "to calm" — ultimately from the same root as "sit.".
How many meanings does “sedate” have?
“Sedate” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: calm, unhurried, and dignified in manner.
