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

Its newest addition—part of hotelier Ian Schrager’s Edition chain—is a decidedly more subdued affair, and that’s by design. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 July 2026

Color isn't absent from naturalistic gardens, but the palette tends to be tighter and more subdued. — Miranda Crowell, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 June 2026

Verb

Seashells, pearls, and gold chrome look surprisingly subdued, thanks to shades of cream and white. — Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 2 July 2026

Other monkeys, including some of the larger and more dominant macaques, had to be subdued with tranquilizer darts before they could be captured. — Brittany Miller, FOXNews.com, 30 June 2026