variants
also low-keyed
as in subdued
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
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Recent Examples of low-key
Where to stay on the North Fork Its largest town, Greenport, offers a low-key alternative to flashier Long Island escapes like the Hamptons.
—
Sarah Buder, AFAR Media, 2 Oct. 2025
At the beginning of this finale, the two main pairings (Will-Sylvia and Sylvia-Charlie) are both at odds in appropriately low-key ways.
—Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2025
The best of these low-key spots in Canada, at least according to a January 2025 study led by Jackpot City, an online casino, is Mt. Maichen Ski Hill.
—Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 30 Sep. 2025
Also, this is low-key the premise of the movie Simone?
—Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 30 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for low-key
Sarah Buder, AFAR Media, 2 Oct. 2025
At the beginning of this finale, the two main pairings (Will-Sylvia and Sylvia-Charlie) are both at odds in appropriately low-key ways.
—Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2025
The best of these low-key spots in Canada, at least according to a January 2025 study led by Jackpot City, an online casino, is Mt. Maichen Ski Hill.
—Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 30 Sep. 2025
Also, this is low-key the premise of the movie Simone?
—Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 30 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for low-key
Recent Examples of Synonyms for low-key
Adjective
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Economists see an uptick in hiring, though still at a subdued level.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
28 Sep. 2025
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Eventually the euphoria of the moment started giving way to subdued appreciation.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
27 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Home renovation phenoms Julia and Chris Marcum teamed up with rug brand Loloi on a collection that features understated and muted designs like this one.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
6 Oct. 2025
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Made with a silky-soft, stretchy material, this tee is designed with understated blanket stitching along the shoulders, adding an elevated touch to the classic style.—
Melony Forcier,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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In the after-hours, the black faille number styled with a silky lime-green tank top was at once restrained and opulent, just great for a night out.—
Sandra Salibian,
Footwear News,
29 Sep. 2025
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In practice, despite his rhetoric, Israel’s longest serving prime minister’s security policy was widely seen as cautious and relatively restrained, even derided as cowardly by political rivals, who also mocked his inability to make decisive moves.—
Tal Shalev,
CNN Money,
29 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Yet in reality, Knape explains, early color filmmaking methods didn’t do well with semi-clear substances like (pseudo)blood, or with muted colors.—
Mark Hay,
Popular Science,
9 Oct. 2025
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Hudson’s strapless gown featured a muted sky blue tone with silver motifs throughout.—
Julia Teti,
Footwear News,
9 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Antinori, who has worked in top-tier hotel bars across Europe, has eschewed the complexity of modern mixology in favor of straightforward, unpretentious tipples that spotlight quality local ingredients.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
9 Oct. 2025
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Skylark Negril Beach Resort was the ideal backdrop for dreams to take shape: vibrant yet unpretentious, a space steeped in Jamaican soul.—
Essence,
Essence,
3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Strufe adds that while intelligence agencies or cybercriminals have simpler ways to monitor people – such as accessing CCTV cameras or video doorbells – the widespread presence of wireless networks could eventually form a near-comprehensive surveillance infrastructure.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Oct. 2025
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The simplest way to find influential people in a network is called degree centrality—just count the number of connections for each person.—
Jack Murtagh,
Scientific American,
11 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Hours after the deal’s announcement, videos posted on social media by correspondents and Unicef spokesperson James Elder in Gaza showed a relatively quiet night sky, a rare occurrence in an enclave that has faced incessant bombardments for just over two years.—
Callum Sutherland,
Time,
9 Oct. 2025
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When Venus journeys through Virgo, affection looks like cooking a meal for someone, fixing what’s broken or showing up in quiet, consistent ways.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
8 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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State authorities contacted the woman's legislator and the conservative blogger.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
7 Oct. 2025
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The case pits conservative Christians, who support the practice and say a ban would violate free speech, against the LGBTQ+ community.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
7 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Low-key.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/low-key. Accessed 13 Oct. 2025.
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