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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of subdued
Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 20 Jan. 2026
Skewing your green selections toward a more earthy aesthetic will help set a more subdued tone that helps enhance your room’s overall design rather than trying to steal the show.
—Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 19 Jan. 2026
CBS News, 19 Jan. 2026
After a week of the largest nationwide demonstrations in years, the streets of Iran have once again fallen silent, subdued by force.
—Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN Money, 16 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for subdued
Adjective
The more subdued whip stitch pillow cover features graphic contrast stitching for some minimalist detail that’s not too in-your-face.
—Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 20 Jan. 2026
Skewing your green selections toward a more earthy aesthetic will help set a more subdued tone that helps enhance your room’s overall design rather than trying to steal the show.
—Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 19 Jan. 2026
Verb
Back in San Francisco, the mood was subdued at the Kezar Pub, where only a handful of 49ers fans gathered to watch the remaining playoff games.
—CBS News, 19 Jan. 2026
After a week of the largest nationwide demonstrations in years, the streets of Iran have once again fallen silent, subdued by force.
—Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN Money, 16 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for subdued
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subdued
Adjective
-
While the would-be leaders of France and Germany issued sharp rebukes to Trump, the opposition in central and eastern Europe was more muted.—
Christian Edwards,
CNN Money,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Henson’s makeup and hair complemented the theatricality of her attire, with her hair tossed in a high bun and the actress’ makeup featuring dramatic eyes and a muted lip.—
Julia Teti,
Footwear News,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Rehmet, a veteran and labor union leader, defeated Republican activist and entrepreneur Leigh Wambsganss to represent Texas' 9th Senate district, located in the Fort Worth area.—
Kate Perez,
USA Today,
2 Feb. 2026
-
So are some other 2020 finalists, Bono the Havanese, Wilma the boxer — and Siba, the standard poodle who defeated them all to claim that year’s best in show award.—
Jennifer Peltz,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
While grand cinematic simulators with deep systems and flight models dominated the early part of the decade, the late '90s saw the emergence of more arcade-style dogfighting games like Rogue Squadron and Colony Wars.—
Alan Bradley,
Space.com,
31 Jan. 2026
-
While some apps are experimental or low-effort, the approach mirrors the early days of iOS and Android app stores, where quirky and test apps dominated before the ecosystem matured.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
At home, the Guard’s Basij volunteer arm brutally suppressed recent nationwide protests, establishing itself as the theocracy’s primary tool for squashing dissent.—
Jon Gambrell,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Jan. 2026
-
This led organically to feelings of love for one’s Black nannies and friendship with the children of your Black live-in maids, but this warmth had to be suppressed.—
Eve Fairbanks,
The Dial,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Rooms are furnished comfortably in the expected Southwestern decor, but avoid overdoing it thanks to restrained, contemporary hands.—
Asonta Benetti,
Condé Nast Traveler,
31 Jan. 2026
-
That restrained use of color and geometry feels emblematic of Milan, a city that prizes substance over flash.—
Laura Itzkowitz,
AFAR Media,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
President Erdoğan mastered this approach—publicly criticizing rate decisions, invoking Islamic prohibitions on interest, signaling displeasure through state media—until governors either complied or departed.—
Güney Yıldız,
Forbes.com,
30 Jan. 2026
-
That’s why Warsh is skeptical of the idea that leadership can be mastered from a bookstore shelf.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The tournament of Ashford takes place in 209 AC (short for After the Conquest, when Aegon Targaryen conquered Westeros), while Ned Stark’s execution happens in 298 AC.—
Tracy Brown,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Jan. 2026
-
And having already successfully conquered so many cable-style reality formats (docuseries, food shows, dating experiments), the streamer is now aiming its programming artillery — and algorithm — at one of the few remaining formats still dominated by broadcast networks such as ABC and NBC.—
Josef Adalian,
Vulture,
20 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Brannon Martinsen complimented him with 16 points that included a couple of timely shots that quelled any momentum Harvard-Westlake was trying to build.—
Dan Lovi,
Daily News,
22 Jan. 2026
-
Ultimately, any hard feelings about how the Blue Jays’ offseason panned out could be quelled by another successful World Series run next season.—
Peter Chawaga,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Subdued.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subdued. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
