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
Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 14 Feb. 2026
The recent batch of labor market data (both public and private) indicated that there’s a high likelihood that job growth was tepid, that unemployment remained subdued and that health care remained a primary driver of overall hiring.
—Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 11 Feb. 2026
Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026
But tonight her mood is subdued rather than swinging.
—Lynn Hirschberg, Rolling Stone, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for subdued
Adjective
With such a statement on top, Jenner kept the rest of the look relatively subdued.
—Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 14 Feb. 2026
The recent batch of labor market data (both public and private) indicated that there’s a high likelihood that job growth was tepid, that unemployment remained subdued and that health care remained a primary driver of overall hiring.
—Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 11 Feb. 2026
Verb
Nevertheless, the immediate market response to the recent earnings report was relatively subdued.
—Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026
But tonight her mood is subdued rather than swinging.
—Lynn Hirschberg, Rolling Stone, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for subdued
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subdued
Adjective
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This provided a clean palette for the recreation of muted, period-accurate tones with subtle, textured colors set against the deep wood grains, which complemented the 35mm Kodak film stock.—
Bill Desowitz,
HollywoodReporter,
19 Feb. 2026
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Queen’s impact has been a bit more muted and inconsistent since Zion Williamson re-entered the lineup for the New Orleans Pelicans.—
Sam Vecenie,
New York Times,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Valencia’s girls basketball team defeated Windward 59-46 on Saturday night in the CIF-SS Division 1 semifinals at Valencia High.—
Tony Gleason,
Daily News,
22 Feb. 2026
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In a showdown between defensive ends, Shea defeated Moss, a Western Illinois football recruit, by an 8-4 decision to become the state champion.—
Bobby Narang,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Feb. 2026
Verb
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In a sports media landscape often dominated by contract disputes and on-field rivalries, the Garrett-Kim interview resonated as something refreshingly heartfelt — and the poem, a four-line verse touching on the themes Garrett says occupy his mind most, struck the deepest chord.—
Ryan Brennan,
Kansas City Star,
20 Feb. 2026
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On the franchise’s staying power in a genre historically dominated by male stars, Mukerji credits its unflinching subject matter.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Last month, security forces brutally suppressed nationwide protests, killing thousands and arresting many more in the deadliest suppression of demonstrations in the history of the Islamic Republic.—
Farida Elsebai,
CNN Money,
20 Feb. 2026
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Students have participated in other forms of protest during the school day, which King and Hendrick said was a reaction to feeling that their voices were suppressed.—
Cate Charron,
IndyStar,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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So far, the looks have featured modern takes on retro looks, eye-catching juxtapositions, and impactful yet restrained looks.—
Kara Jillian Brown,
InStyle,
19 Feb. 2026
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The script here is too stiffly restrained to a fault to make much of an emotional impact, even as spending time with these actors historically is never without pleasures.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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They were inspired by video generation, a task already mastered by computer scientists.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
20 Feb. 2026
-
On top of that, Jackson seems to have mastered the art of dribble-penetration.—
Shreyas Laddha,
Kansas City Star,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Her victory continues the comeback theme – a narrative of paths conquered, attempted, thwarted and ongoing – that has come to define the alpine women skiers of these 2026 Games.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
15 Feb. 2026
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Volcker went down in history as the man who conquered inflation, laying the foundation for decades of American prosperity.—
Steve Chapman,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The case helped fuel a revolt across Wall Street, mostly since quelled, by junior talent tired of 120-hour weeks.—
Rohan Goswami,
semafor.com,
19 Feb. 2026
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If Quebec’s French-Canadian separatist movement and various referenda were ultimately quelled by Canada recognizing that culturally and linguistically unique province as a nation within Canada, then Alberta is headed for a similar result, at best.—
Rachel Marsden,
Hartford Courant,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Subdued.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subdued. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.
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