as in muted
not excessively showy
the actor's understated interpretation of the lead role is surprisingly compelling
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in minimized
to say that (something) is smaller, less important, etc., than it really is
He understated his taxable income. She's trying to understate the issue/problem.
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of understated
Jacqueline Tempera, People.com, 3 Aug. 2025
At the start of this delicate and understated love story, which took home the World Cinema Grand Jury Prize at Sundance earlier this year, Anand (Bhushaan Manoj) and his family tearfully gather in a hospital waiting room.
—Lovia Gyarkye, HollywoodReporter, 30 July 2025
Luke Smith, The Athletic, 24 Nov. 2024
The resort's 89 suites are understated yet elegant.
—Rooksana Hossenally, Forbes, 19 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for understated
Adjective
Manhattan Accent Chair Create a favorite reading spot with this refined and understated accent chair from Stewart’s line.
—Jacqueline Tempera, People.com, 3 Aug. 2025
At the start of this delicate and understated love story, which took home the World Cinema Grand Jury Prize at Sundance earlier this year, Anand (Bhushaan Manoj) and his family tearfully gather in a hospital waiting room.
—Lovia Gyarkye, HollywoodReporter, 30 July 2025
Verb
The importance of these two victories cannot be understated.
—Luke Smith, The Athletic, 24 Nov. 2024
The resort's 89 suites are understated yet elegant.
—Rooksana Hossenally, Forbes, 19 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for understated
Recent Examples of Synonyms for understated
Adjective
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Here, contemporary design prevails–muted tones, clean lines, and a focus on natural Scottish wellness.—
Lee Sharrock,
Forbes.com,
15 Aug. 2025
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The immediate effect of rescheduling on the nation’s criminal justice system would also likely be more muted, since federal prosecutions for simple possession have been fairly rare in recent years.—
Addy Bink,
The Hill,
12 Aug. 2025
Verb
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So any advantage a driver or team has today will likely be minimized and copied in short order.—
Jeff Gluck,
The Athletic,
22 Mar. 2025
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Given these circumstances, the stakes that come with winning games down the stretch have, in some ways, been minimized.—
Nick Crain,
Forbes,
22 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Aston Villa have had a quiet summer, which has led to varying opinions on their floor and ceiling.—
Anantaajith Raghuraman,
New York Times,
14 Aug. 2025
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Thessaloniki, however, pulses with spice-laden markets, waterfront cafés, and Byzantine mosaics tucked into quiet chapels.—
Lewis Nunn,
Forbes.com,
14 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The bank also published a subdued note from chief economist Jan Hatzius that forecast U.S. GDP growth would be only 1% in the second half of the year.—
Jim Edwards,
Fortune,
4 Aug. 2025
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Over the past three months, Trump has been engaged in multiple rounds of saber-rattling and often intense negotiations with U.S. trading partners that have jangled nerves but nonetheless coincided with a subdued but solid pace of economic growth.—
Jeff Cox,
CNBC,
30 July 2025
Verb
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Rodgers dismissed three of Rashada’s other counts Tuesday, almost four months after a hearing.—
Matt Baker,
New York Times,
9 Apr. 2025
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However, five months later, Johansson’s request for the restraining order was forced to be dismissed after the papers were unable to be served to her alleged stalker.—
Brian Niemietz,
New York Daily News,
9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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But the whisky never strays too far from its wood-spiced core, with restrained elements of aspen, pine, birch, and cedar wood.—
David Thomas Tao,
Forbes.com,
7 Aug. 2025
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Those gaudy, ridiculous 19th-century renovations lasted about 20 years, after which Theodore Roosevelt tore them out in favor of the restrained work of McKim, Mead & White, which laid the visual foundation for the rooms’ appearance today.—
Christopher Bonanos,
Curbed,
1 Aug. 2025
Verb
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However, Mariners executive vice president/general manager Justin Hollander appeared optimistic about Robles' recovery and downplayed surgery concerns.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
9 Apr. 2025
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White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt downplayed the exchange.—
Jonathan Easley,
The Hill,
8 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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This was no isolated outburst, but part of a broader effort to delegitimize conservative participation in academic life.—
Ilya Shapiro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Aug. 2025
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First, the Heritage Foundation was never conservative.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Understated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/understated. Accessed 23 Aug. 2025.
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