understated 1 of 2

adjective

ˌən-dər-ˈstā-təd How to pronounce understated (audio)
Definition of understatednext
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

understated

2 of 2

verb

past tense of understate
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 show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of understated
Adjective
Clean lines and beveled edges give this console an airy, understated look with open storage for displaying decorative objects while offsetting visual weight. — Nora Taylor, Architectural Digest, 23 July 2026 After Houston granted Lambert his release two days before Opening Day, the understated right-hander has brought stability that no one else could to the team’s teetering starting rotation. — Chandler Rome, New York Times, 23 July 2026
Verb
Lopez emerged in the City of Light wearing an all-black ensemble that was anything but understated. — Daisy Maldonado, InStyle, 7 July 2026 But the ramifications are not to be understated, Clark warned. — Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 6 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for understated
Recent Examples of Synonyms for understated
  1. muted
  2. minimized
  3. quiet
  4. dismissed
  5. subdued
  6. downplayed
  7. restrained
  8. simple
Adjective
  • Starbucks isn’t immune to those concerns, which is reflected in the stock’s more muted performance in recent months.
    — Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 30 July 2026
  • Those who adore Kurosawa’s unsettling earlier films may be thrown off by his new movie’s relatively muted approach.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 30 July 2026
Definition of muted
Verb
  • Each incident was met with a familiar, suffocating silence — minimized, forgiven and swept away.
    — Jeremy Kohler, ProPublica, 20 July 2026
  • Tonje also did a solid job defensively and minimized his mistakes.
    — Jay King, New York Times, 20 July 2026
Definition of minimized
Adjective
  • My favorite way to spend an afternoon, though, was borrowing one of the hotel's bicycles and pedaling around South of Fifth, where quiet residential streets quickly give way to cafés, the marina, and the fun buzz of Ocean Drive.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 July 2026
  • For gardens, Shosei-en is a quiet surprise so close to Kyoto Station that most visitors walk right past it, a strolling garden of ponds, bridges, and teahouses that makes a perfect first or last stop in the city.
    — Shivani Vora, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
Definition of quiet
Verb
  • But that conviction was dismissed after the revelation that a juror in the trial had not disclosed a domestic violence incident in her own background in order to win a seat on the panel, The Denver Post reports.
    — Virginia Chamlee, PEOPLE, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Defense attorneys also should not be able to reference the felony charges dismissed after video showed agents’ falsehoods.
    — Julia Coin, Charlotte Observer, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of dismissed
Adjective
  • Without them, some would feel even bigger, more raw and dramatic, but others — especially in America, where many neutrals came specifically for the spectacle rather than for either team — could feel subdued and forgotten.
    — Henry Bushnell, New York Times, 21 July 2026
  • Obviously, the talking-points from Kiffin will be interesting to monitor, though the Tigers head coach seems to be more subdued in person compared to his social media presence.
    — Trey Wallace OutKick, FOXNews.com, 20 July 2026
Definition of subdued
Verb
  • The Dodgers have downplayed Ohtani’s health as a factor in their deadline plans.
    — Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 31 July 2026
  • But the Dodgers have downplayed the severity of that ailment and are under the impression that throwing doesn’t hurt it.
    — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 31 July 2026
Definition of downplayed
Adjective
  • Where Heron feels restrained and almost surgical, Hornbill is shaped for users who want more contact with the handle, more leverage through the cut, and a stronger physical presence without moving into oversized tactical-knife territory.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 21 July 2026
  • Drewchin operates in this more restrained mode throughout the record, peeling back the layers of her dizzying art pop.
    — Colin Joyce, Pitchfork, 20 July 2026
Definition of restrained
Adjective
  • One solution would be a relatively simple expansion of the southern end of the Stadium of Light to mirror the height of the west and north.
    — Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 22 July 2026
  • Food safety experts say a few simple habits can make a difference.
    — Olivia LaBorde, AJC.com, 21 July 2026
Definition of simple

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Cite this Entry

“Understated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/understated. Accessed 3 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of understated for Spanish Speakers

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