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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of subdued
Tessa Cooper, Southern Living, 15 May 2026
As the United States has escalated its attacks on Iran, there’s something pleasingly transgressive about bringing Iranian elements into such overtly Western music—so much so that the songs without Yaghmai’s playing seem a little subdued in comparison.
—Molly Mary O’Brien, Pitchfork, 15 May 2026
Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 13 May 2026
On the night the Rams drafted Simpson, general manager Les Snead and coach Sean McVay were uncharacteristically subdued during a news conference.
—Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for subdued
Adjective
And the extra-vibrant color chips present tend to make all the others look much more subdued in comparison.
—Tessa Cooper, Southern Living, 15 May 2026
As the United States has escalated its attacks on Iran, there’s something pleasingly transgressive about bringing Iranian elements into such overtly Western music—so much so that the songs without Yaghmai’s playing seem a little subdued in comparison.
—Molly Mary O’Brien, Pitchfork, 15 May 2026
Verb
The outlet reported that three bystanders subdued Estrada before officers arrived.
—Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 13 May 2026
On the night the Rams drafted Simpson, general manager Les Snead and coach Sean McVay were uncharacteristically subdued during a news conference.
—Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for subdued
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subdued
Adjective
-
That goes for much here, from the light that scurries away from Benjamín Echazarreta’s muted camera, to the moments of sweetness that punctuate Mariá Portugal’s largely ominous score.—
Jessica Kiang,
Variety,
14 May 2026
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Moreover, the brand’s growth in Europe, Middle East and Africa was impacted by muted consumer sentiment in Europe due to both higher energy costs and inflation and because the conflict impacted the brand’s ability to ship into the Middle East.—
Vicki M. Young,
Footwear News,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
Drew Burress became Georgia Tech's career leader in home runs, Alex Hernandez drove in four runs, and the Yellow Jackets defeated North Carolina 13-6 on Saturday to claim the ACC Baseball Championship for the 10th time.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
24 May 2026
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Andy Pages hit a two-run homer immediately after Kyle Tucker delivered a tiebreaking two-run triple in the fifth inning to back up Yoshinobu Yamamoto's strong pitching as the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Milwaukee Brewers 5-1 on Sunday.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
24 May 2026
Verb
-
North Paulding baseball coach Matt Richardson broke tradition on Monday when his team dominated a Georgia powerhouse to make the state championship.—
Jack Leo,
AJC.com,
22 May 2026
-
Busch dominated the October 2016 Xfinity Series Kansas Lottery 300 from the pole for the third straight year, leading 150 of 200 laps for his 85th career Xfinity Series win.—
Jeff Rosen,
Kansas City Star,
22 May 2026
Verb
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Ukraine's air force said in a post to Telegram on Thursday that Russia launched 675 drones and 56 missiles into the country overnight, of which 652 drones and 41 missiles were intercepted or suppressed.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
14 May 2026
-
This not only suppressed uneven vertical phase distribution but also improved film uniformity across the devices.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
7 May 2026
Adjective
-
Policymakers in Tallahassee have shown that low taxes, restrained spending, and pro-growth priorities produce tangible benefits for residents.—
Nicole Huyer,
The Orlando Sentinel,
24 May 2026
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Vocally, vulnerable verses gradually give way to ecstatic displays of emotion, and the instrumentation follows a similar pattern, with a restrained acoustic accompaniment at the start, and a multi-instrumental orchestration at the climax.—
Angelica Frey,
JSTOR Daily,
22 May 2026
Verb
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Sony has also reportedly partnered with three studios — Battery Studios, Sterling Sound, and Coast Mastering — that have mastered Grammy-winning records to help tune the ColleXion’s bespoke audio drivers.—
Jess Weatherbed,
The Verge,
18 May 2026
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The professionals who excel at small talk have mastered the follow-up question.—
Andy Molinsky,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
Here was a man who had conquered eight halls of fame, had traveled the world many times over, and nothing compared to his home.—
Gillian Telling,
PEOPLE,
19 May 2026
-
His father conquered mass culture.—
Noel Burgess,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
Intense protests related to economic issues broke out in Iran in early 2026, but were harshly quelled.—
Alex Sundby,
CBS News,
18 May 2026
-
Abreu quelled the inning, however, striking out Dylan Beavers and Coby Mayo swinging at sliders.—
Matt Kawahara,
Houston Chronicle,
30 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Subdued.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subdued. Accessed 25 May. 2026.
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