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

Andrew Arrabaca, 43, was charged in Manhattan federal court a day after the attack at 26 Federal Plaza that injured three people before security officers subdued him. — ABC News, 21 July 2026

India has been the most prolific IPO market in the world over the last two years, with the highest number of listings, but activity was subdued here during the first half of the year. — Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 21 July 2026