as in muted
not excessively showy
the actor's understated interpretation of the lead role is surprisingly compelling
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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.
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of understated
Stephen Kearse, Pitchfork, 24 Mar. 2026
Following its renovation, the yacht features revised living spaces with interiors that favor understated luxury, blending midcentury furniture with contemporary pieces from Liaigre and Holly Hunt.
—Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 22 Mar. 2026
Grace McCarty, Glamour, 18 Mar. 2026
Thousands of patients have already filed lawsuits against Novo Nordisk, alleging the company understated the health risks of its GLP-1 drugs.
—Austin Fast, USA Today, 17 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for understated
Adjective
The adventurous rapper and producer take a more refined approach on a collaborative album full of wandering thoughts and odd, understated beats.
—Stephen Kearse, Pitchfork, 24 Mar. 2026
Following its renovation, the yacht features revised living spaces with interiors that favor understated luxury, blending midcentury furniture with contemporary pieces from Liaigre and Holly Hunt.
—Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 22 Mar. 2026
Verb
Having something that syncs immediately with your phone can’t be understated.
—Grace McCarty, Glamour, 18 Mar. 2026
Thousands of patients have already filed lawsuits against Novo Nordisk, alleging the company understated the health risks of its GLP-1 drugs.
—Austin Fast, USA Today, 17 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for understated
Recent Examples of Synonyms for understated
Adjective
-
In the meantime, the Bay Area will stay dry on Thursday with a notable warming trend as temperatures rise back into the 80s across the interior, with a more muted warmup (into the 70s) closer to the water.—
Greg Porter,
San Francisco Chronicle,
26 Mar. 2026
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In markets, trading has been mixed across Asia, while European futures indicate a muted open.—
Leonie Kidd,
CNBC,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Because the condition affects balance and coordination, veterinarians recommend keeping affected cats in safe, predictable spaces where hazards like slippery floors, high furniture and stairs are minimized.—
Liz O'Connell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
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Around 400 were involved in experiments where pain was not minimized.—
Quinn Clark,
jsonline.com,
25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Aside from some quiet complaints about the NCAA’s COVID-19 protocols for people sitting around the court, no one offered anything other than positive reviews.—
Mac Engel
March 31,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Despite her difficult start, Kaiko has since been recovering in her new home, with the viral video capturing a quiet but significant milestone—her first night sleeping indoors.—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Loose ends and compelling payoffs await after a subdued and slow-ish first frame that struggles with a balance between dark brooding and uneven lull.—
David John Chávez,
Mercury News,
27 Mar. 2026
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Institutional investors spent much of the first quarter selling upside bets—effectively wagering that prices wouldn’t rise sharply—to generate income in a subdued market, said James Harris, chief executive officer at asset manager Tesseract.—
Sidhartha Shukla,
Fortune,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In February, the judge overseeing the case dismissed several claims against the bank, but let stand two others.—
Chase Jordan,
Charlotte Observer,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Far too often, symptoms such as fatigue, swelling, shortness of breath and nerve pain are misdiagnosed or dismissed.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Grace had given us this restrained performance.—
Chris Murphy,
Vanity Fair,
27 Mar. 2026
-
High ceilings, expansive windows, and a restrained neutral palette creates an atmosphere that feels instantly and effortlessly calm.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Cherfilus-McCormick downplayed the significance of fellow House Democrats calling for her resignation.—
Anthony Man,
Sun Sentinel,
29 Mar. 2026
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In France, following the G7 meeting on Friday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio downplayed the cooperation between Iran and Russia.—
Margaret Brennan,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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In Catanzaro Lido, a beach town along the Ionian coast, meals tend to be simple and communal.—
Jenna Curcio,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 Mar. 2026
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In her first interview since becoming head of content at Disney+ EMEA, Angela Jain has said the message to writers and producers is simple, the streamer is going to greenlight more originals from the region and will be backing that effort with extra funds for local fare.—
Stewart Clarke,
Deadline,
25 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Understated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/understated. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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