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)
Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 6 Aug. 2025
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
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
Verb
Ortega’s hair extensions were removed and her eye makeup was toned-down, which gave way to her effortlessly exhausted countenance.
—Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 6 Aug. 2025
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for toned (down)
Adjective
-
It was all suitably muted and understated.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
25 Oct. 2025
-
BeCalm is full of smart little touches that make life easier — think hidden pockets for your phone, buttery-soft fabrics that never cling, and muted tones that actually make getting dressed feel calming.—
Katie Ann Lehman,
StyleCaster,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The audio is muffled and at times difficult to discern.—
Lucien Bruggeman,
ABC News,
14 Oct. 2025
-
The summer noise of saplings and shrubs and bug nests and grass and flowers had been muffled by the snow.—
Hazlitt,
Hazlitt,
8 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Fernandez decorated the home’s interiors with a warm, subdued palette to give the place a serene family-friendly vibe.—
Katie Schultz,
Architectural Digest,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Our second club gig was much more subdued.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
With stunning celerity, possibility becomes probability and then certainty, as readers reject the quiet, circuitous, and unglamorous narratives of prudential compromise, ambiguous diplomacy, or incremental progress.—
Elizabeth D. Samet,
Foreign Affairs,
29 Oct. 2025
-
Still, this isn’t about contemplation or quiet reflection.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
29 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The same restrained values of democracy have always marked the White House—a stately house, but not an imperial one.—
Adam Gopnik,
New Yorker,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Cooper—director of pictures like Crazy Heart, Hostiles, and most recently The Pale Blue Eye—makes sure the proceedings are always restrained and respectful.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Silver There was a time when owning silver was a rite of passage and, while its panache has decreased in recent year, there's still inherent value in this precious metal.—
Heather Bien,
Southern Living,
2 Nov. 2025
-
Symptoms include pain, swelling, stiffness, and decreased joint mobility.—
Jakob Roze,
Health,
31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
From there, Anderson grounded the bold hosiery with understated brown leather pumps.—
Kelsey Stewart,
Footwear News,
26 Oct. 2025
-
Pair it with a belt and matching earrings to complete the look, or opt for a long necklace to accentuate the neckline with an understated style.—
Caley Sturgill,
Southern Living,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
To start, there are the fabric covers—the latest issue featuring a series of iconic William Morris prints, full-bleed images and heavyweight paper at a time when most of the industry has been reduced to flimsy stock.—
Naomi Rougeau,
Robb Report,
31 Oct. 2025
-
Staffing has reportedly been reduced by 50 percent in some areas since the shutdown started.—
Jasmine Laws,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Toned (down).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/toned%20%28down%29. Accessed 3 Nov. 2025.
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