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
Leslie Katz, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026
The response was more subdued when, in the fourth round, the San Francisco 49ers selected Prysock.
—Dan Greene, New Yorker, 18 May 2026
Clifford Ward, Chicago Tribune, 29 May 2026
The holiday once again is subdued this year in Gaza, where the vast majority of people remain displaced and live in tents or temporary shelters after a devastating war.
—Wafaa Shurafa, Los Angeles Times, 27 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for subdued
Adjective
That was one of the more subdued negative responses, many of which focus around respecting the dead.
—Leslie Katz, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026
The response was more subdued when, in the fourth round, the San Francisco 49ers selected Prysock.
—Dan Greene, New Yorker, 18 May 2026
Verb
The employees subdued Scott in the parking lot and held him down until police arrived.
—Clifford Ward, Chicago Tribune, 29 May 2026
The holiday once again is subdued this year in Gaza, where the vast majority of people remain displaced and live in tents or temporary shelters after a devastating war.
—Wafaa Shurafa, Los Angeles Times, 27 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for subdued
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subdued
Adjective
-
The abrupt end to her doubles foray at the HSBC Queen’s Club Championships was more muted.—
Steve Henson,
Los Angeles Times,
11 June 2026
-
The array of feathers added pops of color to the dress, with muted, earthy tones like soft browns and golds and more featured throughout.—
Julia Teti,
Footwear News,
10 June 2026
Verb
-
Schumaker was on the Cardinals team that in 2011 that defeated the Rangers in seven games to win the World Series.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
7 June 2026
-
Georgia defeated Mississippi State 11-9 in 10 innings on Sunday to sweep the Athens Super Regional and clinch the school’s first trip back to the College World Series since 2008.—
Hunter DeLauder,
AJC.com,
7 June 2026
Verb
-
The note pulls in the opposite direction of the clean-laundry fragrances that dominated recent fragrance cycles.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Sacbee.com,
12 June 2026
-
Cozy perfumes are taking over because consumers are craving comfort, nostalgia and a sense of discovery rather than the straightforward fresh and floral scents that dominated earlier years.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Charlotte Observer,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
The couple is seeking $25 million in damages, claiming that because their team didn’t have the documents suppressed, they were convicted on every count.—
Emily St. Martin,
Los Angeles Times,
12 June 2026
-
Ukraine's air force said Russia launched two ballistic missiles and 221 drones in its latest barrage, of which 195 drones were intercepted or otherwise suppressed.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
11 June 2026
Adjective
-
Elinor Dashwood is the epitome of Sense—self-contained, controlled, restrained.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 June 2026
-
When a court issues a domestic violence protective order, federal law prohibits the restrained person from possessing a gun.—
Sativa Banks,
The Conversation,
4 June 2026
Verb
-
Eva Longoria has mastered the art of the Euro summer outfit.—
Kyra Surgent,
InStyle,
12 June 2026
-
Whatever the account, these are poems that have not simply endured time, but have mastered it, capturing it in their movements, their tides.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 June 2026
Verb
-
Nicholas Galitzine plays He-Man, aka Prince Adam of Eternia, who, as an adolescent, was sent to Earth after his kingdom was conquered by Skeletor, played by Jared Leto as a purring diva.—
The Week US,
TheWeek,
8 June 2026
-
The inventor of the Basque cheesecake, a dessert that has conquered the world, will retire next year, leaving behind a legacy that has reshaped menus globally.—
Jeronimo Gonzalez,
semafor.com,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
His last-minute decision to increase payouts, announced two days before the congress, quelled a larger revolt.—
Chris Jones,
The Atlantic,
7 June 2026
-
But that has not quelled the far-right’s violence.—
Issy Ronald,
CNN Money,
3 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Subdued.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subdued. Accessed 15 Jun. 2026.
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