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
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Apr. 2026
Green ivies provide a more understated aesthetic.
—ABC News, 7 Apr. 2026
Soo Kim, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
Anything fantastical is offscreen or understated.
—Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for understated
Adjective
The overall look is clean and modern with understated tropical touches, while Balmain bath amenities add an extra-luxe touch.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Apr. 2026
Green ivies provide a more understated aesthetic.
—ABC News, 7 Apr. 2026
Verb
The Colorado River, which runs through the canyon and can be misleadingly understated when viewed from high altitude, established its course approximately 6 million years ago.
—Soo Kim, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
Anything fantastical is offscreen or understated.
—Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for understated
Recent Examples of Synonyms for understated
Adjective
-
Scientists also asked the astronauts to report their perception of color and tone on the night side of the Moon, where only the muted hues of sunlight reflected off the Earth illuminate the surface.—
Stephen Clark,
ArsTechnica,
9 Apr. 2026
-
In fact, a muted matte texture helps tone down this neon pink manicure.—
Emily Kelleher,
InStyle,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Think about a moment at work when your contribution was minimized.—
Kelly Ehlers,
Rolling Stone,
1 Apr. 2026
-
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
Adjective
-
Maybe quiet parenting, like quiet quitting and quiet luxury before it, could catch on as a meme among key influencers.—
Jessica Winter,
New Yorker,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Dan Campbell said the quiet part out loud, a bit unprompted, when asked about his confidence level in potentially moving star right tackle Penei Sewell to left tackle.—
Colton Pouncy,
New York Times,
7 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Christians in Jerusalem, Gaza and Iran held subdued celebrations due to restrictions during war in the region.—
Colleen Barry,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Tablecloth One of the easiest ways to set the scene is with a tablecloth, and Farm Rio's offering feels both vibrant and subdued.—
Helena Madden,
Martha Stewart,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
When a Groyper account on X suggested that Jewish people were responsible for contemporary German immigration policy, Rogers, using her official State Department account, dismissed the claim as nonsense.—
Antonia Hitchens,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
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And yet, when HB 1098 was introduced in 2023, critics dismissed it as a solution in search of a problem.—
Lisa Frizell,
Denver Post,
6 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Even within a restrained palette, a strong silhouette can shift the entire room.—
Angelika Pokovba,
Martha Stewart,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Ashe is a rocket ship that can’t be reined in, and watching the restrained, comparably rational Coop try to lasso him is reliably entertaining.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Perhaps in response, a Microsoft executive downplayed the company's AI focus last month while talking up major improvements to future Windows 11 updates.—
Michael Kan,
PC Magazine,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Scientific evidence shows that kratom carries real risks that are often downplayed or misunderstood.—
Andrew Kolodny,
The Conversation,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Styles for men and women are available -- all with Allbirds design philosophy that's clean, modern and perfectly simple -- lightweight, bouncy and wildly comfortable.—
Tory Johnson,
ABC News,
9 Apr. 2026
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On April 18, that reverence will look like music, laughter and a line of people waiting for something hot out of the fryer — a simple plate carrying stories from across the world, all landing in one place.—
Evan Moore,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Understated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/understated. Accessed 11 Apr. 2026.
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