Synonyms of subdued

subdued 1 of 2

adjective

səb-ˈdüd 

as in muted

not excessively showy

the wedding was a subdued affair, with only close family and friends attending

Synonyms & Similar Words

• muted
• restrained
• quiet
• understated
• repressed
• conservative
• low-key
• simple
• proper
• unpretentious
• sober
• toned-down
• appropriate
• unflashy
• fitting
• suitable
• modest
• handsome
• plain
• graceful
• becoming
• unadorned
• inconspicuous
• unobtrusive
• fit
• undecorated
• sensible
• unnoticeable
• drab
• tasteful
• practical
• refined
• mousy

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• loud
• flamboyant
• gaudy
• noisy
• garish
• flashy
• ostentatious
• glitzy
• swank
• splashy
• flaring
• meretricious
• vulgar
• tawdry
• tacky
• tasteless
• fancy
• inelegant
• gilded
• ornate
• trashy
• razzle-dazzle
• baroque
• graceless
• overwrought
• frilly
• rococo
• overdone
• overdecorated

subdued

2 of 2

verb

past tense of subdue

1

as in defeated

to achieve a victory over

subdued her fear of the dark by joining a club for spelunkers

Synonyms & Similar Words

• defeated
• mastered
• overcame
• conquered
• beat
• took
• dispatched
• got
• stopped
• surmounted
• bested
• succeeded
• trimmed
• worsted
• prevailed (over)
• overmatched
• got the better of
• licked
• upended
• won (against)
• triumphed (over)
• overwhelmed
• got around
• finished
• swept
• crushed
• buried
• upset
• did down
• slaughtered
• skunked
• surpassed
• flattened
• whipped
• knocked for a loop
• annihilated
• overbore
• overpowered
• subjugated
• excelled
• vanquished
• flourished
• exceeded
• scored
• thrashed
• routed
• clobbered
• bombed
• trounced
• capped
• blew out
• skinned
• topped
• shellacked
• waxed
• transcended
• smoked
• eclipsed
• blew away
• edged (out)
• creamed
• walloped
• outstripped
• snowed under
• broke
• outshone
• pipped
• knocked over
• bettered
• outdid
• overthrew
• outdistanced
• unseated
• nosed out
• knocked off
• drubbed
• aced (out)
• overtopped
• outfought

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• lost (to)
• fell
• went down
• failed
• collapsed
• gave up
• folded
• washed out
• went under
• flopped
• flunked

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

• dominated
• conquered
• subjected
• defeated
• overpowered
• overcame
• subjugated
• vanquished
• pacified
• reduced
• enslaved
• subordinated
• crushed
• beat
• suppressed
• smashed
• whipped
• annihilated
• quelled
• routed
• thrashed
• licked
• prevailed (over)
• repressed
• triumphed (over)
• silenced
• clobbered
• trounced
• smothered
• mowed (down)
• squelched
• quashed
• squashed
• walloped
• drubbed
• snuffed (out)
• skunked
• put down
• broke
• cracked down (on)
• clamped down (on)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• liberated
• released
• freed
• discharged
• emancipated
• sprang
• enfranchised
• unbound
• manumitted
• unfettered
• unchained
• uncaged

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

• suppressed
• quelled
• repressed
• silenced
• crushed
• stifled
• sat on
• quashed
• destroyed
• extinguished
• squashed
• squelched
• overcame
• snuffed (out)
• slapped down
• cracked down (on)
• clamped down (on)
• put down
• demolished
• dominated
• quenched
• throttled
• obliterated
• strangled
• decimated
• doused
• smothered
• ruined
• overwhelmed
• wrecked
• subjugated
• annihilated
• overpowered
• vanquished
• conquered
• exterminated
• wiped out
• devastated
• smashed
• wasted
• desolated
• put out
• nuked
• rubbed out

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• aided
• assisted
• helped
• supported
• backed
• provoked
• stirred
• abetted
• propped up
• whipped (up)
• encouraged
• instigated
• cultivated
• advanced
• promoted
• incited
• fostered
• forwarded
• nurtured
• furthered
• fomented
• nourished

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of subdued

Adjective

Taking the stage before the subdued audience, Mexico’s Alonso Ruizpalacios acknowledged the collective disappointment by turning to Elizabeth Butcher’s poem One Art. — Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 8 July 2026

When asked to run similar projections while modeling for factors such as return variability, family income and investor behavior, Morningstar showcases a more subdued picture of financial health for account holders at the same intervals. — Ryan Ermey, CNBC, 3 July 2026

Verb

That’s probably the only thing that’s subdued on the entire vehicle, of course. — Caleb Jacobs, The Drive, 15 July 2026

For all its 120 proof, the ethanol is quite subdued, which allows sweeter (brown sugar), fruitier (figs, cherries), spicier (cinnamon), and lightly smoky aromas (BBQ sauce burnt ends) to really stand apart. — David Thomas Tao, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026