lacking in light; not bright or harsh; " a dim light beside the bed"; " subdued lights and soft music"

restrained in style or quality; " a little masterpiece of low- keyed eloquence"

quieted and brought under control; " children were subdued and silent"

Conquered; overpowered; crushed; submissive; mild.

Not glaring in color; soft in tone.

Softened.

Her mother was subdued. – Tess of the d'Urbervilles A Pure Woman by Thomas Hardy

There was earnest entreaty in her voice, but she had subdued her agitation. – The Obstacle Race by Ethel M. Dell

Then: " Yes, sir," in a subdued whisper. – Gunman's Reckoning by Max Brand

Edna had evidently been ashamed of her outburst of temper on the previous evening, for she came down on Sunday morning looking a little pale and subdued, and very gentle in her manner to her mother and Bessie. – Our Bessie by Rosa Nouchette Carey

The previous conversation had been in subdued tones, but her last remark must have been audible over half the gymnasium. – The Head Girl at the Gables by Angela Brazil

The face of the younger man worked with subdued excitement. – Denzil Quarrier by George Gissing

He was subdued, was Jakie, and his soft, brown eyes were humble whenever they met the eyes of Happy Jack. – The Happy Family by Bertha Muzzy Bower

" Mr. Breen says come up, ma'am," she said in a subdued voice. – Peter A Novel of Which He is Not the Hero by F. Hopkinson Smith

We looked significantly at one another, continuing our subdued talk. – The White Peacock by D. H. (David Herbert) Lawrence

We are a subdued sort of family, mother. – A Country Gentleman and his Family by Mrs. (Margaret) Oliphant

The old farmer was gradually persuaded to this course, though he grumbled all the way there that I ought to be " locked up," while the children, thoroughly subdued, walked in silence behind us. – The Mysterious Shin Shira by George Edward Farrow

Mount, in a very subdued voice, asked permission to present me, and the gentleman bowed, saying he knew my name from hearing of my father. – Cardigan by Robert W. Chambers

The landlady's face was grave, the landlady's manner was subdued. – Man and Wife by Wilkie Collins

As long as they deal only with the tribes thoroughly subdued, the Trinobantes, the Cantii, the Be1gae, and the Dumnonii, all may be quiet; they dare not move. – Beric the Briton A Story of the Roman Invasion by G. A. Henty

Barney's excitement became intense in sympathy with the subdued excitement of the woman whom he could not as yet see. – The Mad King by Edgar Rice Burroughs

Him then he subdued while eagerly rushing on. – The Iliad of Homer (1873) by Homer

In a few moments Spotted Deer again caught the low, ominous murmur of subdued voices. – Spotted Deer by Elmer Gregor

For the first few days no great alarm was felt, and the pain seemed to in some measure subdued. – Missionary Work Among The Ojebway Indians by Edward Francis Wilson

He couldn't mean- oh, no, he's too calm and subdued for that. – The Parson O' Dumford by George Manville Fenn

The old man shook his head sadly and answered in a subdued tone: I stood by when Herr Rojanow questioned him in the hall. – The Northern Light by E. Werner