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
Greg Braxton, Los Angeles Times, 23 May 2025
Steel prices in the U.S. have witnessed a declining trend due to subdued demand in the domestic market with weak manufacturing activities.
—Trefis Team, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024
Jen Cason, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Dec. 2024
Advertisement Trading was expected to be subdued this week with a thin slate of economic data on the calendar.
—Alex Veiga, Los Angeles Times, 26 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for subdued
Adjective
While other noteworthy anniversaries of momentous events that have shaped the nation have often inspired documentaries and prime-time specials hosted by top news personalities, many TV news outlets are treating the Floyd anniversary with a more subdued tone.
—Greg Braxton, Los Angeles Times, 23 May 2025
Steel prices in the U.S. have witnessed a declining trend due to subdued demand in the domestic market with weak manufacturing activities.
—Trefis Team, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024
Verb
The wreaths range from classic and subdued to colorful and illuminated, and they can be used year after year thanks to their faux-yet-realistic-looking materials.
—Jen Cason, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Dec. 2024
Advertisement Trading was expected to be subdued this week with a thin slate of economic data on the calendar.
—Alex Veiga, Los Angeles Times, 26 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for subdued
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subdued
Adjective
-
The halter neckline, open back, and flowing fabric give it a breezy, resort-ready vibe—especially in the muted sage green.—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
29 June 2025
-
Natural light pours in through the windows, highlighting the soft textures and muted palette.—
Elizabeth Fogarty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
27 June 2025
Verb
-
After being dominated by the quicker Moorer for the first seven rounds, Foreman found his timing late in the fight and landed combination after combination.—
Mark Puleo,
The Athletic,
22 Mar. 2025
-
Give me Tennesee to cover without too much trouble against a UCLA team that dominated its first-round foe, Utah State, but went just 23-10 (13-7 Big Ten) this year.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
22 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Caspar suppressed his urge to respond.—
Brandon Taylor,
The Atlantic,
4 Jan. 2025
-
Ukrainians are uncovering their country’s culinary history – and how its distinctive features were suppressed by the authorities during Soviet rule.—
Howard LaFranchi,
The Christian Science Monitor,
30 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
Without it, people go quiet, engagement drops and growth stalls.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
27 June 2025
-
The quiet horror is that even 20 years later, the fence has not disappeared.—
Philip Martin,
Arkansas Online,
27 June 2025
Verb
-
Service is friendly but discreet, something the Swiss have mastered like few others.—
Everett Potter,
Forbes.com,
10 Apr. 2025
-
That that's something that's really, really hard to replicate, and he's really mastered it.—
Dalton Ross,
EW.com,
8 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Scarlett Johansson has conquered the superhero franchise, been nominated for several prestigious awards and years ago made her way into Saturday Night Live’s prestigious Five-Timers Club.—
Kevin Dolak,
The Hollywood Reporter,
7 Jan. 2025
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By contrast, Xinjiang was conquered in the mid-18th century by the Qing dynasty (around the same time the British were marching on India) and then claimed by the current People’s Republic of China after its formation in 1949.—
Michael Schuman,
The Atlantic,
6 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
From there, though, the Magic closed within 90-80 late in the third period with a 12-0 run that was quelled by a Pelle Larsson three-point play.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
22 Dec. 2024
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But the speculation in space, nuclear, mobility, and quantum names must be quelled to get a real ending to this.—
Jim Cramer,
CNBC,
20 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
Some of those more restrained alternatives would demand less of the U.S. military and thus cost far less, too.—
JENNIFER LIND,
Foreign Affairs,
24 June 2025
-
Markets also rose on Monday after Iran’s restrained response to the U.S. strike against Iran over the weekend.—
Leo Schwartz,
Fortune,
24 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Subdued.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subdued. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.
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