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
  • Apple’s role in the private markets has been somewhat muted in the AI era.
    — Allie Garfinkle, Fortune, 4 Sep. 2026
  • However, if the event underwhelms, the analysts said, the market reaction would be muted or negative.
    — Lora Kolodny, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of mute
Verb
  • Know More There’s plenty of history to look back on for House Democrats who worry that a favorable political climate could get blunted by last-minute GOP spending.
    — Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 8 Sep. 2026
  • The attacking threat evident in those marquee victories has since been blunted too, with Morocco international Ismael Saibari departing for Bayern Munich this summer.
    — Nick Miller, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of blunt
Verb
  • Polite, slightly puzzling debates over the merits of using concrete in Africa muffle the period’s scalding passions and incandescent dreams.
    — Justin Davidson, Curbed, 2 Sep. 2026
  • The actress wears a toasty-looking fur hat and sits cross-legged on the floor, the Canadian road traffic muffling her voice slightly.
    — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 2 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
  • Net sales decreased 3 percent to $530 million compared to $546 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2026.
    — Stephen Garner, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2026
  • No one knows exactly when or by how much mortgage rates will actually decrease.
    — Faith Wakefield, USA Today, 3 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
  • France is hoping a new tax on ultra-fast fashion will dampen demand for cheap clothes.
    — Helen Massy-Beresford, Vogue, 3 Sep. 2026
  • That means options generally are the most expensive since late June, and traders may be leaning into strategies that collect premium by betting the swings in the fund will dampen.
    — Oliver Renick, CNBC, 2 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 10 Sep. 2026.

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