variants
or less commonly low-keyed
1
: having or producing dark tones only with little contrast
2
: of low intensity : restrained
1
informal
: in a way or to a degree that is moderate or limited
It didn't take long for all of us to become low-key [=somewhat] obsessed with Lizzo …—
Abi Travis
Abi TravisEverywhere we go, we're low-key [=casually] checking out coffee shops, parks, and window seats for maximum reading coziness.—Charlotte Ahlin
Charlotte AhlinWe asked the BuzzFeed Community to tell us which products have low-key changed their lives.—Samantha Wieder
Samantha WiederFirst things first: for what it's worth, I low-key think Jake Gyllenhaal is the best actor of his generation.—Eric Ital
Eric Ital2
informal
: without seeking or receiving much attention or recognition
Nordstrom low-key announced the sale with little fanfare …—Danielle Gonzalez
Danielle GonzalezThe 21-year-old model and 24-year-old musician surprised everyone when they low-key stepped into a New York City courthouse to make it official …—Jamie Leelo
Jamie Leelo… is low-key getting some of the best and most underrated lines in these episodes …—Kase Wickman
Kase WickmanShe was low-key the best player on that season …—Leigh Oleszczak
Leigh OleszczakSynonyms
Examples of low-key in a Sentence
Adjective
hoping to make a good impression, he deliberately chose a low-key tie with a subtle pattern
Recent Examples on the WebStephanie Sengwe, Peoplemag, 22 May 2024
Instead of massive buffets and nightly entertainment, this low-key stay offers a sense of seclusion that’s wrapped up in villas overlooking aqua water, snorkeling whenever the mood strikes, and captaining your own powerboat.
—Lindsay Cohn, Travel + Leisure, 21 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for low-key 
Adjective
The low-key band of brothers — consisting of Isaac, 43, Taylor, 41, and Zac, 38 — made a rare appearance at the Inaugural Grammy Hall of Fame Gala, which took place at the Grammy Museum in L.A. on May 21.
—Stephanie Sengwe, Peoplemag, 22 May 2024
Instead of massive buffets and nightly entertainment, this low-key stay offers a sense of seclusion that’s wrapped up in villas overlooking aqua water, snorkeling whenever the mood strikes, and captaining your own powerboat.
—Lindsay Cohn, Travel + Leisure, 21 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for low-key
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'low-key.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Low-key.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/low-key. Accessed 29 May. 2024.
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