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tone (down)

verb

Definition of tone (down)next
as in to mute

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for tone (down)
  1. mute
  2. blunt
  3. muffle
  4. dull
  5. reduce
  6. decrease
  7. damp
  8. dampen
Verb
  • The clip of his remarks went viral in the Philippines, while the reaction on Chinese social media was comparatively muted.
    — Anniek Bao, CNBC, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Delicate Vegetables Tender vegetables like asparagus and spinach lose their texture and flavor after hours in the slow cooker, turning mushy, muted, and underwhelming.
    — Anne Wolf, Martha Stewart, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of mute
Verb
  • Lobbyists representing hospitals have also begun working to roll back the cuts — or blunt them through new funding.
    — Daniel Payne, STAT, 14 Sep. 2026
  • The ads aim to blunt a GOP advantage on public safety that the group found in polling this year.
    — Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of blunt
Verb
  • After two hours of practice, with the 10-foot-tall fences doing little to muffle the bullhorn orders and corresponding groans, the huddle broke and the personalities sprung to life.
    — Noah White, Washington Post, 14 Sep. 2026
  • The generational distance that has muffled the pain of 2001 is also seen in California’s varied educational approach.
    — Jaweed Kaleem, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of muffle
Verb
  • Detergent, minerals, and everyday grime can cling to the fibers, creating a film that dulls their appearance.
    — Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Abrasive sponges and cleaners can leave tiny marks behind that will dull and damage the surface over time.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of dull
Verb
  • Its compact permanent magnet motor enables a smaller pod diameter, reducing hydrodynamic drag while maintaining high propulsion performance.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Advanced transmission technologies can reduce those losses and increase existing network capacity without requiring entirely new lines.
    — Nana Menya Ayensu, semafor.com, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of reduce
Verb
  • Winds will very slowly decrease late Saturday night into early Sunday morning behind the cold front.
    — CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 11 Sep. 2026
  • What else changes Although officer staffing has fallen in recent years, violent crime has also decreased by about 40% since 2021, according to IMPD data.
    — Jordan Smith, IndyStar, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of decrease
Verb
  • By early afternoon, the scene shifts across the shaded wooden deck, as guests slip in from the jetty barefoot and still damp from the sea, for long, languid lunches that roll into dusk.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Sep. 2026
  • For extra hold, apply a little volumizing mousse or a lightweight styling product to damp hair.
    — Lucy Binder, Glamour, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of damp
Verb
  • However, El Niño and marine heat waves can change the timing or force of the winds, potentially dampening coastal upwelling and reducing the availability of food for sea life along the coast.
    — Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • The contrast with Arsenal, a picture of stability, has dampened hopes of anything even remotely resembling a title race.
    — Jack Lang, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of dampen
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.

Browse Nearby Words

toned (down)
tone (down)
toned (up)
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Cite this Entry

“Tone (down).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tone%20%28down%29. Accessed 16 Sep. 2026.

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