as in muted
not excessively showy
after such a heated argument, it was a relief to hear someone use toned-down language to state their position
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Recent Examples of toned (down)
Laurie Brookins, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Its colorful striped pattern is toned-down ever so slightly by a pair of fashion flip-flops from Massimo Dutti and Haight’s chestnut-colored swimsuit.
—Laura Jackson, Vogue, 4 July 2024
For her, that meant toned-down, muted pinks and mauve desert tones.
—Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Mar. 2024
Verb
Perhaps another reason is that, with the exception of a few suits, men’s looks at the Grammys largely were underwhelming, and that may have also been the result of wanting to look more toned-down out of respect for victims of the wildfires.
—Laurie Brookins, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Its colorful striped pattern is toned-down ever so slightly by a pair of fashion flip-flops from Massimo Dutti and Haight’s chestnut-colored swimsuit.
—Laura Jackson, Vogue, 4 July 2024
For her, that meant toned-down, muted pinks and mauve desert tones.
—Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Mar. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for toned (down)
Adjective
-
The halter neckline, open back, and flowing fabric give it a breezy, resort-ready vibe—especially in the muted sage green.—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
29 June 2025
-
Natural light pours in through the windows, highlighting the soft textures and muted palette.—
Elizabeth Fogarty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
27 June 2025
Adjective
-
Defying the typical approach where women tend to remain subdued and silent, often fearful of additional scrutiny.—
Gemma Allen,
Forbes.com,
25 June 2025
-
Its madras inventory today includes these seven-inch shorts in a slightly more subdued and earthy pattern and color.—
Eric Twardzik,
Robb Report,
23 June 2025
Adjective
-
Without it, people go quiet, engagement drops and growth stalls.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
27 June 2025
-
The quiet horror is that even 20 years later, the fence has not disappeared.—
Philip Martin,
Arkansas Online,
27 June 2025
Adjective
-
Some of those more restrained alternatives would demand less of the U.S. military and thus cost far less, too.—
JENNIFER LIND,
Foreign Affairs,
24 June 2025
-
Markets also rose on Monday after Iran’s restrained response to the U.S. strike against Iran over the weekend.—
Leo Schwartz,
Fortune,
24 June 2025
Adjective
-
There are both bold and understated options available.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
27 June 2025
-
Björn Borg, with his headbands and ice-cold demeanor, and Arthur Ashe, with his academic cool and understated elegance, became icons whose style outlasted their careers.—
Brett F. Braley-Palko,
Forbes.com,
26 June 2025
Verb
-
O'Reilly said that the police department reduced the number of abuse complaints and use of Taser, which had been leading to costly lawsuits.—
Niraj Warikoo,
Detroit Free Press,
3 Jan. 2025
-
Liver damage can be reduced if the person stops drinking.—
George Petras,
USA TODAY,
3 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
The conservative wing of the Supreme Court upheld a Tennessee law that prohibits medical practitioners from providing gender-affirming care to minors; these include prescribing puberty blockers and hormone therapy to transgender children.—
Essence,
Essence,
27 June 2025
-
Advertisement In line with multiple other significant rulings issued by the court on Friday, the six conservative judges Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, Amy Coney Barrett, Brett Kavanaugh, Samuel Alito and Chief Justice John Roberts comprised the majority.—
Callum Sutherland,
Time,
27 June 2025
Verb
-
Lepers’s case study offers a test of whether the same is true in your 50s, or whether the body’s adaptive potential is so blunted that some of the losses become permanent.—
Alex Hutchinson,
Outside Online,
23 Dec. 2024
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On a third day, exercising afterwards blunted my Lingo Count by a few points.—
Meg Tirrell,
CNN,
29 Nov. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Toned (down).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/toned%20%28down%29. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.
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