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
  • Ugly Baby was one of the rare spots in the city that didn’t hold back on heat like many in America do to appease Western palates and milder heat tolerances.
    — Ali Domrongchai, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Nov. 2026
  • The mild weather will continue Tuesday night, when partly cloudy skies and temperatures dip to around 53 degrees.
    — The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Sun, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of mild
Adjective
  • As chief of staff, Wiles continued to be an inconspicuous, albeit powerful, figure in the White House -- continuing to stay out of the spotlight and speaking infrequently to the media.
    — Nicholas Kerr, ABC News, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Test a product on an inconspicuous spot first, and follow the manufacturer’s care instructions.
    — Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of inconspicuous
Adjective
  • The cover art for The Holy Cross Tigers is awash in burgundy, a more ambiguous shade that’s indicative of the oppositional emotions stewing within.
    — Stuart Berman, Pitchfork, 5 Nov. 2026
  • But Maryland’s climate goals have been ambiguous and inconsistent.
    — Alex Pavlak, Baltimore Sun, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of ambiguous
Adjective
  • The service Signature Ritz-Carlton polish—consistent, unobtrusive, and intuitive.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Or maybe the steady, unobtrusive creep of conservatism has been the idea all along.
    — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 19 Oct. 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
  • After all, his career record is a rather unremarkable 52-50, which doesn’t include his 0-3 record in playoff games.
    — Elliott Teaford, Oc Register, 7 Nov. 2026
  • Rooms Starting from 334 square feet, standard rooms are comfortable, if unremarkable, with Hilton Serenity beds and smart TVs.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Nov. 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 9 Nov. 2026.

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