as in muted
not excessively showy
the wedding was a subdued affair, with only close family and friends attending
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in defeated
to achieve a victory over
subdued her fear of the dark by joining a club for spelunkers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in dominated
to bring under one's control by force of arms
subdued the rebels and sent their leaders to the gallows
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in suppressed
to put a stop to (something) by the use of force
labored through the night to subdue the river's rising waters by building a wall of sandbags around their property
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of subdued
Rosemary Feitelberg, WWD, 21 Jan. 2025
Victorian Era and British Royalty Eventually, British monarch Queen Victoria gave rise to the mourning brooch a more subdued but meaningful design in which a piece of the deceased's hair—in Victoria’s case, hair from Prince Albert—is incorporated into the design.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 18 Jan. 2025
Jen Cason, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Dec. 2024
Advertisement Trading was expected to be subdued this week with a thin slate of economic data on the calendar.
—Alex Veiga, Los Angeles Times, 26 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for subdued 
Adjective
Related Articles Tuesday’s interfaith service looked considerably more subdued than Monday night’s Inaugural Balls.
—Rosemary Feitelberg, WWD, 21 Jan. 2025
Victorian Era and British Royalty Eventually, British monarch Queen Victoria gave rise to the mourning brooch a more subdued but meaningful design in which a piece of the deceased's hair—in Victoria’s case, hair from Prince Albert—is incorporated into the design.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 18 Jan. 2025
Verb
The wreaths range from classic and subdued to colorful and illuminated, and they can be used year after year thanks to their faux-yet-realistic-looking materials.
—Jen Cason, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Dec. 2024
Advertisement Trading was expected to be subdued this week with a thin slate of economic data on the calendar.
—Alex Veiga, Los Angeles Times, 26 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for subdued
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subdued
Adjective
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Available in both a cheerful yellow daffodil and a muted pastel lavender, this handbag can add a vibrant statement to your outfit or a subtle pop of color.—
Caley Sturgill,
Southern Living,
17 Feb. 2025
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Lenna Denim Sand Area Rug Vintage lovers should consider this smaller rug, with a retro-looking framed pattern featuring muted tans, deep blues, and burgundy accents.—
Shea Simmons,
People.com,
17 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The score was not the only statistic that was dominated by one team over another.—
Giovanni Malloy,
Forbes,
24 Dec. 2024
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Texas also dominated on the ground with 292 rushing yards, while Clemson managed only 76.—
Giovanni Malloy,
Forbes,
24 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Caspar suppressed his urge to respond.—
Brandon Taylor,
The Atlantic,
4 Jan. 2025
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Ukrainians are uncovering their country’s culinary history – and how its distinctive features were suppressed by the authorities during Soviet rule.—
Howard LaFranchi,
The Christian Science Monitor,
30 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Amidst a sea of partygoers in wild outfits galore, Zoë Kravitz reminded us that sometimes breaking the rules can be a quiet act.—
Hannah Jackson,
Vogue,
14 Feb. 2025
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Located on Florida’s Panhandle southeast of Panama City, Mexico Beach is an under-the-radar community with about 1,000 people and a quiet, Old Florida vibe.—
Lisa Cericola,
Southern Living,
14 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Things happened—or didn’t happen—depending on who had the ear of the president at any moment and who had mastered the dark arts of bureaucratic warfare.—
Henry Farrell,
Foreign Affairs,
23 Dec. 2024
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And Valverde has mastered this facet of the game, with five of his six goals this season coming from shots from outside the penalty area — the most by any player in Europe’s top five domestic leagues.—
Mario Cortegana,
The Athletic,
23 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Scarlett Johansson has conquered the superhero franchise, been nominated for several prestigious awards and years ago made her way into Saturday Night Live’s prestigious Five-Timers Club.—
Kevin Dolak,
The Hollywood Reporter,
7 Jan. 2025
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By contrast, Xinjiang was conquered in the mid-18th century by the Qing dynasty (around the same time the British were marching on India) and then claimed by the current People’s Republic of China after its formation in 1949.—
Michael Schuman,
The Atlantic,
6 Jan. 2025
Verb
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From there, though, the Magic closed within 90-80 late in the third period with a 12-0 run that was quelled by a Pelle Larsson three-point play.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
22 Dec. 2024
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But the speculation in space, nuclear, mobility, and quantum names must be quelled to get a real ending to this.—
Jim Cramer,
CNBC,
20 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Zhang films the turbulent yet nuanced action in dry, restrained tableaux of an elusive lyricism, a poetry that, to match Beibei’s relentless pursuits, remains just out of reach.—
Richard Brody,
The New Yorker,
29 Jan. 2025
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Some folks might overstate the likely influence of those who call for a more restrained U.S. approach to the world within a second Trump administration, the scholars wrote in the opinion piece.—
Cory Smith,
Baltimore Sun,
23 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near subdued
Cite this Entry
“Subdued.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subdued. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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