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
Hedy Phillips, PEOPLE, 5 May 2026
The Melissa Harmonic Petal Jelly Flip Flops feature bold floral decals that embrace the season’s blooms and add an understated standout to your footwear.
—Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 1 May 2026
Mary Tomolonius, Hartford Courant, 29 Apr. 2026
The combination is understated, elegant, and instantly grounding.
—Sophie Flaxman, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for understated
Adjective
The following year, the Wolf of Wall Street star leaned into understated elegance in a custom Calvin Klein floor-length number with waist cutouts.
—Hedy Phillips, PEOPLE, 5 May 2026
The Melissa Harmonic Petal Jelly Flip Flops feature bold floral decals that embrace the season’s blooms and add an understated standout to your footwear.
—Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 1 May 2026
Verb
The role of mass transit as a driver of economics at every level cannot be understated.
—Mary Tomolonius, Hartford Courant, 29 Apr. 2026
The combination is understated, elegant, and instantly grounding.
—Sophie Flaxman, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for understated
Recent Examples of Synonyms for understated
Adjective
-
Almost all of her daytime choices are neutral tones — soft grays or muted colors, pinstriped wool blazers and soft charcoals.—
Gretta Monahan,
Boston Herald,
7 May 2026
-
Rooms were designed by Lowell and decorator Tiffany Vassilakis, featuring muted interiors, fireplaces and claw-foot tubs — closer in feel to a private country home than a traditional hotel.—
Hanna Wickes,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
Those fights faded once governments began delineating specific zones where such projects were allowed and impacts could be minimized.—
Bloomberg,
Oc Register,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Warsh also minimized the president’s threats against the central bank, asserting that the Fed isn’t actually in any immediate danger of being coerced.—
Will Gottsegen,
The Atlantic,
22 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
As a national icon, the Natural Bridge served as a quiet, Emersonian rebuke to Europe’s militaristic triumphal arches, reinforcing the naturalness of American democracy.—
Sebastian Smee,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
This peaceful hotel feels like a library—warm, bookish, and sanctuary-like—though most guests congregate in quiet nooks between the hibiscus flowers, grapefruit trees, and pines that predate the property.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
4 May 2026
Adjective
-
For a more subdued columbine, look to the ‘pink lantern’ varietal.—
Ashley Chalmers,
The Spruce,
26 Apr. 2026
-
So far, with real estate prices under pressure [in China], confidence in Chinese market remains subdued.—
Elsa Ohlen,
CNBC,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
And a federal judge dismissed both of those cases.—
NBC news,
NBC news,
3 May 2026
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At Friday’s news conference, Cordero-Stutz said outstanding citations will be dismissed.—
Scott Travis,
Sun Sentinel,
3 May 2026
Adjective
-
The Santa Fe burrito is a genuine pleasure—more restrained, built on a smaller scale, with green chile doing the complex, vegetal, low-burning work that other versions might leave to salsa—though, again, the tortilla serves its contents, rather than the hosannas going the other way.—
Helen Rosner,
New Yorker,
3 May 2026
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Plus, the more restrained growth of today still comes on top of a much larger business, the Zenith CEO pointed out.—
Lily Templeton,
Footwear News,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
As the Celtics prepared to head back to TD Garden for Game 7, Tatum downplayed the injury.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
1 May 2026
-
But the canal authority downplayed the report, pushing back on the congestion claims.—
Glenn Taylor,
Footwear News,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
These are products have a short, simple ingredient lists that are easy to understand for regular consumers and are free from additives.—
Priyanka Salve,
CNBC,
7 May 2026
-
Sometimes this involved simple in-person observations.—
E. Tammy Kim,
New Yorker,
7 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Understated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/understated. Accessed 9 May. 2026.
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