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
Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 12 Apr. 2026
And according to data from Opendoor, the preference for subdued shades extends to the front door as well, with 44% of homeowners valuing white, gray, gray-blue, and gray-green at an entrance.
—Elizabeth Stamp, Architectural Digest, 8 Apr. 2026
Isaac Stanley-Becker, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2026
The restrictions had previously subdued holiday celebrations and sparked international criticism when Catholic leaders were barred from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre on Palm Sunday.
—Sam Mednick, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for subdued
Adjective
The stroll to the 11th tee box was a subdued swagger, with confidence and strength emanating from every step of defending Masters champion Rory McIlroy.
—Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 12 Apr. 2026
And according to data from Opendoor, the preference for subdued shades extends to the front door as well, with 44% of homeowners valuing white, gray, gray-blue, and gray-green at an entrance.
—Elizabeth Stamp, Architectural Digest, 8 Apr. 2026
Verb
They were abandoned during the Mongol invasion in 1241 and then subdued by the Ottoman empire in 1526.
—Isaac Stanley-Becker, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2026
The restrictions had previously subdued holiday celebrations and sparked international criticism when Catholic leaders were barred from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre on Palm Sunday.
—Sam Mednick, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for subdued
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subdued
Adjective
-
The château’s striking original facade somehow melds serendipitously with the contemporary interior, which exudes calm thanks to natural stone, fine woods, and muted fabrics throughout.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
-
For a more elevated take on the duo, Browning suggests a more muted approach.—
Maria Sabella,
Better Homes & Gardens,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Xander Bogaerts and Bryce Johnson delivered two-out RBIs as the San Diego Padres defeated the Angels 2-1 on Sunday.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Also defeated was Vladimir Putin, who especially sought an Orbán victory to keep his firewall in the EU, where Hungary had used its power to block assistance to Ukraine and sanctions against Russia; no longer.—
New York Daily News,
Twin Cities,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Another, from 2009, is dominated by the profile of what appears to be a guard dog gripping a black hunk of something unidentifiable.—
Ben Davis,
The New York Review of Books,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Until now, scientists believed those oceans were dominated almost entirely by vertebrate predators — fish, reptiles and eventually marine mammals.—
Ryan Brennan,
Kansas City Star,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Earlier, Britain suppressed a communist insurgency in Malaya, today part of Malaysia.—
Arthur I. Cyr,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Apr. 2026
-
The lawyer noted the statement could be suppressed in court if it was obtained through leading questions, a prolonged interrogation, or coercive tactics.—
Lauryn Overhultz,
FOXNews.com,
20 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
To the left is a relaxed deck for post-dip chilling; to the right is the beautifully restrained restaurant, partly enclosed in a glasshouse with an undulating canopy roof.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Neither restrained nor overpowering.—
Brock Keeling,
Oc Register,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
That is precisely the trick Audi has mastered.—
Chris Jackson,
Denver Post,
24 Apr. 2026
-
The pair have mastered the couples' pic while on their travels together.—
Diane J. Cho,
PEOPLE,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Messi celebrated the winning goal in the arms of his teammates, another stadium conquered, with a smile anyone could understand.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
19 Apr. 2026
-
Ariana Grande has conquered global arenas, the Oscars stage and, now, another CinemaCon.—
Matt Donnelly,
Variety,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Anxiety quelled, the party starts back up, with Bambaataa spinning a record by James Brown.—
Doreen St. Félix,
New Yorker,
25 Apr. 2026
-
What could not be as easily quelled were the puns.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Subdued.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subdued. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.
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