as in muted
not excessively showy
after such a heated argument, it was a relief to hear someone use toned-down language to state their position
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Recent Examples of toned-down
Laurie Brookins, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Its colorful striped pattern is toned-down ever so slightly by a pair of fashion flip-flops from Massimo Dutti and Haight’s chestnut-colored swimsuit.
—Laura Jackson, Vogue, 4 July 2024
For her, that meant toned-down, muted pinks and mauve desert tones.
—Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Mar. 2024
Adjective
Perhaps another reason is that, with the exception of a few suits, men’s looks at the Grammys largely were underwhelming, and that may have also been the result of wanting to look more toned-down out of respect for victims of the wildfires.
—Laurie Brookins, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Its colorful striped pattern is toned-down ever so slightly by a pair of fashion flip-flops from Massimo Dutti and Haight’s chestnut-colored swimsuit.
—Laura Jackson, Vogue, 4 July 2024
For her, that meant toned-down, muted pinks and mauve desert tones.
—Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Mar. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for toned-down
Adjective
-
The 94 rooms and suites have been reimagined with muted colors inspired by the soft hues of the property’s garden and the building’s historic architecture.—
Laura Itzkowitz,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Apr. 2025
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The Pacific Ocean subtly makes its way into the decor of the 167 guest rooms and suites, where rugs and table lamps in muted greens and turquoise evoke kelp forests, and fluffy robes feature green seashell prints.—
Jennifer Flowers,
AFAR Media,
3 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
This alloy gives our rings just the right heft and just the right subdued luster.—
Charles Portis,
Harper's Magazine,
28 Feb. 2025
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The Princess of Wales styled an Alexander McQueen coat in a subdued shade of green with Ralph Lauren over-the-knee boots.—
Julia Teti,
WWD,
17 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
On the final whistle, there was deep quiet inside the Metropolitano.—
Dermot Corrigan,
New York Times,
4 Apr. 2025
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The Pentagon has not held a press briefing in weeks, and the Defense Department has been quiet about the ongoing strikes.—
Rachel Wolf,
FOXNews.com,
4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Clean lines, streamlined silhouettes, and restrained details result in impactful simplicity, which is exactly what a minimalist bride aspires for.—
Sarah Zendejas,
Vogue,
6 Apr. 2025
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Frank and vulnerable, her restrained vocal performance is the perfect pairing for Sundae Beats’ lush, ethereal soundscape.—
Christopher Claxton,
Billboard,
31 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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In Andrews’s adaptation and staging, Ranevskaya (Nina Hoss, all melancholy grace and understated charisma) feels more like a part of a true ensemble.—
Elisabeth Vincentelli,
New York Times,
3 Apr. 2025
-
Thirty-two years later, the scene remains an understated classic, proof that gun battles needn’t be the overly dramatic shoot-em-ups that populate so many popcorn Westerns — Tombstone included.—
Joseph Hudak,
Rolling Stone,
2 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The final amount could be affected by two factors — the number of claims and how much of the settlement fund is reduced to cover legal fees and costs.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
3 Jan. 2025
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Liver damage can be reduced if the person stops drinking.—
George Petras,
USA TODAY,
3 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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In that joint letter, conservative groups warned Texas lawmakers that a court decision on the interchange fee restrictions enacted in Illinois means that state regulation of interchange fees must be extremely narrow in application in order to avoid violating the U.S. Constitution.—
Patrick Gleason,
Forbes.com,
4 Apr. 2025
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Another thought: In Trump’s first term, retaliation for tariffs generally was aimed at more conservative states, as countries tried to make Trump-friendly areas pay a political price.—
David Lightman,
Sacbee.com,
4 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Lepers’s case study offers a test of whether the same is true in your 50s, or whether the body’s adaptive potential is so blunted that some of the losses become permanent.—
Alex Hutchinson,
Outside Online,
23 Dec. 2024
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On a third day, exercising afterwards blunted my Lingo Count by a few points.—
Meg Tirrell,
CNN,
29 Nov. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Toned-down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/toned-down. Accessed 12 Apr. 2025.
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