as in muted
not excessively showy
the wedding was a subdued affair, with only close family and friends attending
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in defeated
to achieve a victory over
subdued her fear of the dark by joining a club for spelunkers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in dominated
to bring under one's control by force of arms
subdued the rebels and sent their leaders to the gallows
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in suppressed
to put a stop to (something) by the use of force
labored through the night to subdue the river's rising waters by building a wall of sandbags around their property
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of subdued
Brendan Ahern, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025
Fans who attended Monday’s contest noticed a subdued scene.
—The Athletic Nba Staff, The Athletic, 13 Jan. 2025
Jen Cason, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Dec. 2024
Advertisement Trading was expected to be subdued this week with a thin slate of economic data on the calendar.
—Alex Veiga, Los Angeles Times, 26 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for subdued
Adjective
Southbound Connect accounted for 49% of today’s Hong Kong turnover, indicating Mainland investors' reaction to the Trump comments was far less subdued and highlighting the real issue in China, which is real estate.
—Brendan Ahern, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025
Fans who attended Monday’s contest noticed a subdued scene.
—The Athletic Nba Staff, The Athletic, 13 Jan. 2025
Verb
The wreaths range from classic and subdued to colorful and illuminated, and they can be used year after year thanks to their faux-yet-realistic-looking materials.
—Jen Cason, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Dec. 2024
Advertisement Trading was expected to be subdued this week with a thin slate of economic data on the calendar.
—Alex Veiga, Los Angeles Times, 26 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for subdued
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subdued
Adjective
-
Advertisement Advertisement But hopes for a breakthrough this weekend with the Chinese remain muted.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
9 May 2025
-
Over the decades, observance of V-E Day in the West has assumed a more muted, solemn tone.—
Noah Rothman,
National Review,
8 May 2025
Verb
-
How the sprint race unfolded Hamilton dominated, the gap over Piastri widening to nearly seven seconds on the final lap, with Piastri and Verstappen finishing second and third at the Shanghai International Circuit.—
Luke Smith,
The Athletic,
22 Mar. 2025
-
Ali pummelled Foreman in the ring and dominated him on the PR front as well.—
Cynthia Littleton,
Variety,
22 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Caspar suppressed his urge to respond.—
Brandon Taylor,
The Atlantic,
4 Jan. 2025
-
Ukrainians are uncovering their country’s culinary history – and how its distinctive features were suppressed by the authorities during Soviet rule.—
Howard LaFranchi,
The Christian Science Monitor,
30 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
The saw-whets, perhaps intimidated by the larger owl, had gone quiet.—
Brad Dokken,
Twin Cities,
10 May 2025
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As economic uncertainties mount and corporate stability feels increasingly tenuous, a quiet revolution is taking place among millennials and Gen Z: the rise of DIY businesses.—
Jasmine Browley,
Forbes.com,
9 May 2025
Verb
-
Service is friendly but discreet, something the Swiss have mastered like few others.—
Everett Potter,
Forbes.com,
10 Apr. 2025
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That that's something that's really, really hard to replicate, and he's really mastered it.—
Dalton Ross,
EW.com,
8 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Scarlett Johansson has conquered the superhero franchise, been nominated for several prestigious awards and years ago made her way into Saturday Night Live’s prestigious Five-Timers Club.—
Kevin Dolak,
The Hollywood Reporter,
7 Jan. 2025
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By contrast, Xinjiang was conquered in the mid-18th century by the Qing dynasty (around the same time the British were marching on India) and then claimed by the current People’s Republic of China after its formation in 1949.—
Michael Schuman,
The Atlantic,
6 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
From there, though, the Magic closed within 90-80 late in the third period with a 12-0 run that was quelled by a Pelle Larsson three-point play.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
22 Dec. 2024
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But the speculation in space, nuclear, mobility, and quantum names must be quelled to get a real ending to this.—
Jim Cramer,
CNBC,
20 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
In 2024, China's approach to U.S. tariffs remained relatively restrained.—
Kate Nalepinski,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 May 2025
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Maybe this will be a rare case of restrained longing.—
Laura Bradley,
Vulture,
9 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Subdued.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subdued. Accessed 20 May. 2025.
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