as in muted
not excessively showy
the actor's understated interpretation of the lead role is surprisingly compelling
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in minimized
to say that (something) is smaller, less important, etc., than it really is
He understated his taxable income. She's trying to understate the issue/problem.
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of understated
Essence, 27 Mar. 2026
Wrangler Laredo concept Sitting on a 2-inch lift to fit 37-inch wheels, the white and gold Wrangler Laredo is one of the more understated concepts Jeep unveiled this year.
—Liam Rappleye, Freep.com, 26 Mar. 2026
Grace McCarty, Glamour, 18 Mar. 2026
Thousands of patients have already filed lawsuits against Novo Nordisk, alleging the company understated the health risks of its GLP-1 drugs.
—Austin Fast, USA Today, 17 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for understated
Adjective
Her hair was styled in an effortless loose ponytail, completing the ensemble with understated ease.
—Essence, 27 Mar. 2026
Wrangler Laredo concept Sitting on a 2-inch lift to fit 37-inch wheels, the white and gold Wrangler Laredo is one of the more understated concepts Jeep unveiled this year.
—Liam Rappleye, Freep.com, 26 Mar. 2026
Verb
Having something that syncs immediately with your phone can’t be understated.
—Grace McCarty, Glamour, 18 Mar. 2026
Thousands of patients have already filed lawsuits against Novo Nordisk, alleging the company understated the health risks of its GLP-1 drugs.
—Austin Fast, USA Today, 17 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for understated
Recent Examples of Synonyms for understated
Adjective
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The cautious move in oil prices and relatively muted decline in Treasury yields suggest investors remain somewhat skeptical about an immediate end to the war.—
John Towfighi,
CNN Money,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Calm interiors in muted shades of sand and tan do not overpower the landscape, which is the star of the show.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Because the condition affects balance and coordination, veterinarians recommend keeping affected cats in safe, predictable spaces where hazards like slippery floors, high furniture and stairs are minimized.—
Liz O'Connell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Around 400 were involved in experiments where pain was not minimized.—
Quinn Clark,
jsonline.com,
25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Aside from some quiet complaints about the NCAA’s COVID-19 protocols for people sitting around the court, no one offered anything other than positive reviews.—
Mac Engel
March 31,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Despite her difficult start, Kaiko has since been recovering in her new home, with the viral video capturing a quiet but significant milestone—her first night sleeping indoors.—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Loose ends and compelling payoffs await after a subdued and slow-ish first frame that struggles with a balance between dark brooding and uneven lull.—
David John Chávez,
Mercury News,
27 Mar. 2026
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Institutional investors spent much of the first quarter selling upside bets—effectively wagering that prices wouldn’t rise sharply—to generate income in a subdued market, said James Harris, chief executive officer at asset manager Tesseract.—
Sidhartha Shukla,
Fortune,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In February, the judge overseeing the case dismissed several claims against the bank, but let stand two others.—
Chase Jordan,
Charlotte Observer,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Far too often, symptoms such as fatigue, swelling, shortness of breath and nerve pain are misdiagnosed or dismissed.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Grace had given us this restrained performance.—
Chris Murphy,
Vanity Fair,
27 Mar. 2026
-
High ceilings, expansive windows, and a restrained neutral palette creates an atmosphere that feels instantly and effortlessly calm.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Cherfilus-McCormick downplayed the significance of fellow House Democrats calling for her resignation.—
Anthony Man,
Sun Sentinel,
29 Mar. 2026
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In France, following the G7 meeting on Friday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio downplayed the cooperation between Iran and Russia.—
Margaret Brennan,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Build buffer time, trim one commitment, then return to the itinerary with even gentler expectations and a simpler packing list.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
2 Apr. 2026
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Parents, guardians, aunts and uncles don't have time to read every book on the shelf while trying to pick something for the young reader in their life, so here are some simple ways to determine if a book is suitable for that child.—
Cody Godwin,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Understated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/understated. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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