low-key

adjective

ˈlō-ˈkē How to pronounce low-key (audio)
variants also low-keyed
Definition of low-keynext
as in quiet
not excessively showy hoping to make a good impression, he deliberately chose a low-key tie with a subtle pattern

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example 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 low-key Yarmosky, meanwhile, coordinated with Holmes in a low-key way, avoiding tipping into a too twinsy territory. — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 25 Sep. 2026 Pamela Anderson, who has been all about low-key glam the past few years, brought back her smoky eye of yore with a twist, attending the show in a golden gown and bold, graphic black eyeliner inspired by Cleopatra. — Kara Nesvig, Allure, 23 Sep. 2026 Kao was an unusual figure among the company’s low-key naval engineers and boat aficionados. — William Turton, ProPublica, 22 Sep. 2026 His answer re-trod plenty of familiar Cruise messages, but his passion prompted an outbreak of applause from an otherwise low-key audience. — Jake Kanter, Deadline, 21 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for low-key
Recent Examples of Synonyms for low-key
  1. quiet
  2. muted
  3. subdued
  4. understated
  5. restrained
  6. conservative
  7. unpretentious
Adjective
  • After a quiet episode focused on Hal Jordan’s passing, Lanterns’s penultimate chapter deepens the mystery in surprising and wrenching ways.
    — Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 28 Sep. 2026
  • The spa setup includes a proper sauna, a genuinely cold cold plunge, hot tubs, and a quiet outdoor lounge overlooking the dunes.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of quiet
Adjective
  • Related Articles Echoes of Weyant’s paintings of women in muted tones can be seen throughout the interior of her now-for-sale apartment.
    — Francesca Aton, ARTnews.com, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Oil prices are lower, the bond market is stable, and yet the major stock averages are having a muted day.
    — Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of muted
Adjective
  • There are plenty of layers and body, but the bangs are slightly more subdued than a traditional shag.
    — Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 27 Sep. 2026
  • Officials have argued that betting losses have fueled public dissatisfaction with the economy, despite record-low unemployment and relatively subdued inflation in the country.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of subdued
Adjective
  • Wise's understated approach sometimes has the feel of a stage play.
    — Richard Edwards, Space.com, 2 Oct. 2026
  • The hotel is a sleeper hit with the old-school crowd who come for the team’s warmth and understated cleverness.
    — Katharine Sohn, Architectural Digest, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of understated
Adjective
  • For a more restrained take, Simon Miller places fringe along a mini hem, and Ulla Johnson works it into the bodice for a more unexpected finish.
    — Corinne Pierre-Louis, Vogue, 27 Sep. 2026
  • The statements were positive but restrained, reflecting the pain inflicted by this saga.
    — Isaac Stanley-Becker, The Atlantic, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of restrained
Adjective
  • Federal authorities on Thursday charged a Boston-area man with harassing Katie Miller, the conservative podcaster and wife of senior White House aide Stephen Miller, in a case that sparked a heated debate among prosecutors and within the FBI.
    — Jeremy Roebuck, Washington Post, 1 Oct. 2026
  • However, conservative commentators have used the Cornell incident to caution against playing judge, jury, and executioner without allowing a thorough investigation.
    — Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of conservative
Adjective
  • Despite all that geekery, Varietale feels refreshingly unpretentious at all its locations throughout the city.
    — Nikkita Nair, Saveur, 10 Sep. 2026
  • And a spectacle of unabashed, unpretentious joy sounds pretty good right about now doesn’t it?
    — Jenny Bailly, Allure, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of unpretentious

Browse Nearby Words

low-grade
low-key
lowland
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Cite this Entry

“Low-key.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/low-key. Accessed 5 Oct. 2026.

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