unemphatic

adjective

Definition of unemphaticnext
1
as in mild

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2
as in inconspicuous

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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 unemphatic The beat is steady and usually unemphatic; the song circles through three chords again and again. — Jon Pareles, New York Times, 6 July 2018 This 1991 feature, the second by Mexican filmmaker Maria Novaro, is leisurely paced and unemphatic but firmly conceived and executed, with a lot of feeling for female solidarity. — Patrick Friel, Chicago Reader, 17 Apr. 2018 This line, delivered in his usual uninflected, unemphatic tone, is chilling, something that the villain in a Hitchcock thriller, one of those immaculately amoral gentleman-monsters, might have said. — Lili Anolik, Vanities, 14 Dec. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unemphatic
  1. mild
  2. inconspicuous
  3. ambiguous
  4. unobtrusive
  5. nonassertive
  6. unremarkable
  7. guarded
  8. unshowy
Adjective
  • The vaccine, Moderna’s mFlusiva, was found to be 27 percent more effective than a standard shot in trials but may have more mild side effects, like fatigue and injection-site soreness.
    — Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 9 Sep. 2026
  • For a weekend runner in mild weather or an office worker sipping from a desk bottle, the case is much weaker.
    — Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of mild
Adjective
  • Stick one panel somewhere inconspicuous and leave it up for a while.
    — Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 8 Sep. 2026
  • As a member of the mint family, horehound has the tendency to spread aggressively, but this can be prevented by shearing the inconspicuous flowers, which is also done to expose the evergreen foliage.
    — Nadia Hassani, The Spruce, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of inconspicuous
Adjective
  • Not in some ambiguous, interpretive way—but with your actual eyes.
    — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Pathak describes Vijay Salgaonkar as increasingly morally ambiguous across the three films, anchored by one constant.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of ambiguous
Adjective
  • Staff are attentive and knowledgeable but unobtrusive, and the cocktails are excellent.
    — Irenie Forshaw, TheWeek, 4 Sep. 2026
  • The documentary reality of Ryan’s life leans on observational verité techniques, with the camera often placed at an unobtrusive distance and following their freewheeling motions.
    — Marshall Shaffer, IndieWire, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of unobtrusive
Adjective
  • People who knew Zhang described him to police as a nonassertive man who avoided conflict and typically acquiesced to his wife.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 14 June 2021
  • Those who saw an assertive ad chose to allocate $7 of the gift card to the brand on average, compared with $14 for those who saw a nonassertive ad.
    — Alina Dizik, WSJ, 16 May 2017
Definition of nonassertive
Adjective
  • Even if a wild fig turns out to be female, the fruit may be unremarkable.
    — Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 2 Sep. 2026
  • So far this year, only three unremarkable tropical storms have formed in the Atlantic basin (Arthur, Bertha and Cristobal).
    — Doyle Rice, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of unremarkable
Adjective
  • When that happens, people become more guarded, less open and less willing to engage.
    — Tony Gambill, Forbes.com, 30 Apr. 2026
  • Our spirits remain guarded, but high, for this one; the Venice Film Festival crowd seemed to eat it up.
    — Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 3 Sep. 2024
Definition of guarded
Adjective
  • The clothes were unshowy but versatile, appropriate for the office but casual enough for weekend wear.
    — Scottie Andrew, CNN Money, 20 May 2026
  • Ruth is an extraordinary heroine, rock-solid strong in a completely unshowy, sincere, vulnerable way.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 7 May 2026
Definition of unshowy

Browse Nearby Words

unemotional
unemphatic
unempirical
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Cite this Entry

“Unemphatic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unemphatic. Accessed 14 Sep. 2026.

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