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
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Recent Examples of subdued
Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 20 Oct. 2025
While his performance as Jay’s manager is a bit more subdued than many were expecting, if awards voters decide the time has come to give Sandler his due, this role is certainly solid enough to support such a campaign.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2025
Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 31 Oct. 2025
Producer Yung Willis’ electronic flourishes and subdued log drums help soundtrack Jiggy’s late-night rendezvous.
—Heran Mamo, Billboard, 31 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for subdued
Adjective
Meanwhile, the latest collection of Isko Luxury by PG fabrics were more subdued compared to previous seasons but no less complex and creative.
—Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 20 Oct. 2025
While his performance as Jay’s manager is a bit more subdued than many were expecting, if awards voters decide the time has come to give Sandler his due, this role is certainly solid enough to support such a campaign.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2025
Verb
Bugonia is surprisingly subdued for a movie about alien conspiracy theories.
—Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 31 Oct. 2025
Producer Yung Willis’ electronic flourishes and subdued log drums help soundtrack Jiggy’s late-night rendezvous.
—Heran Mamo, Billboard, 31 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for subdued
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subdued
Adjective
-
That snare sound is as instantly identifiable as Miles Davis’s muted horn or Eddie Van Halen’s pyrotechnic neck tapping.—
John Lingan,
Rolling Stone,
8 Nov. 2025
-
With an understated mix of blue and yellow tones that provide warmth but still feel muted.—
Audrey Lee,
Architectural Digest,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The first turned a fourth-quarter fumble into a 59-yard score when Achane burst through a tired, and seemingly defeated Buffalo defensive front and outsprinted the Bills’ entire secondary to the end zone.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
9 Nov. 2025
-
In nonplayoff action, Ben Chen rushed for 133 yards and two touchdowns as Westford Academy defeated Newton South, 33-13.—
Tyler McManus,
Boston Herald,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Trade discussions dominated those meetings, but there were signs of growing tensions over Beijing’s surging conventional and nuclear arsenal.—
Tamara Qiblawi,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Last year’s ceremony saw Beyoncé make history with Album of the Year, while Kendrick Lamar dominated the rap categories, leaving with five trophies of his own.—
Okla Jones,
Essence,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The fresh evidence of how internal dissent was suppressed for the sake of diplomatic relationships exposes a broader crisis of impunity for crimes committed against journalists, and the failure of states to hold other states accountable.—
Scott Griffen,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Nov. 2025
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This may have resulted in cooling that had until now suppressed the sublimation of water ice to steam.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Over the next several weeks, Fan was beaten, starved, and restrained.—
Christina Coulter,
PEOPLE,
10 Nov. 2025
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Special shout-out to Harper’s performance, which strikes me as a restrained cousin to John Cleese’s turn as Basil Fawlty in Fawlty Towers.—
Sophie Brookover,
Vulture,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Jonathan Bailey has mastered the art of capturing hearts.—
Julie Jordan,
PEOPLE,
4 Nov. 2025
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Most fans of the show have likely been bracing themselves to see how Hemsworth takes on a character Cavill has long mastered.—
James Brizuela,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Having conquered the pop world with ease, Rosalía is now embracing difficulty.—
Kelefa Sanneh,
New Yorker,
7 Nov. 2025
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And some fears really can be conquered.—
Shilpa Uskokovic,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
None of the measures have quelled the public outcry.—
Christian Edwards,
CNN Money,
31 Oct. 2025
-
The Tiger defense quelled a red-hot Commodore offense for most of the game, and on the other side, Mizzou made a pair of trips to the red zone.—
Quentin Corpuel,
Kansas City Star,
31 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Subdued.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subdued. Accessed 15 Nov. 2025.
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