variants
also low-keyed
as in quiet
not excessively showy
hoping to make a good impression, he deliberately chose a low-key tie with a subtle pattern
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of low-key
Celebrities often slip in quietly for dinner at The Loft or a low-key afternoon by the pool.
—
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 June 2026
Seattle has all of these in its bar scene—just don’t expect ostentatious VIP rooms, which never fit the vibe of this low-key city.
—Mark Dejoy, Bon Appetit Magazine, 10 June 2026
Located between Sarasota and Fort Myers, Englewood is a low-key seaside town known for its relaxed pace and Old Florida vibes.
—Kristy Tolley, Travel + Leisure, 10 June 2026
Marvin, low-key, had his own storyline throughout the show.
—Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 10 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for low-key
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 June 2026
Seattle has all of these in its bar scene—just don’t expect ostentatious VIP rooms, which never fit the vibe of this low-key city.
—Mark Dejoy, Bon Appetit Magazine, 10 June 2026
Located between Sarasota and Fort Myers, Englewood is a low-key seaside town known for its relaxed pace and Old Florida vibes.
—Kristy Tolley, Travel + Leisure, 10 June 2026
Marvin, low-key, had his own storyline throughout the show.
—Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 10 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for low-key
Recent Examples of Synonyms for low-key
Adjective
-
Only six minutes into this match, New Zealand has scored to take a 1-0 lead and temporarily quiet what had been a raucous crowd tilted toward the Iranian team.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
16 June 2026
-
The end of mandatory minicamp ushers in the quietest time on the NFL calendar.—
Alec Lewis,
New York Times,
16 June 2026
Adjective
-
Here are a few takeaways from the sentencing hearing, including Heuermann’s muted statement, the heartfelt and emotional speeches from victims’ families and the next steps on the road to justice.—
Eric Levenson,
CNN Money,
17 June 2026
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Pair it with pale blues and garden greens to double up on muted hues, or embrace the cinnamon hue and layer it with earth tones.—
Kate McGregor,
Architectural Digest,
17 June 2026
Adjective
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All in all, Louis's hijinks were much more subdued than in previous years, however.—
Lara Walsh,
InStyle,
13 June 2026
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The Garden Room was also recently reimagined and now hosts Après Tea, a more elegant and subdued take on the post-ski tradition.—
Chadner Navarro,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 June 2026
Adjective
-
The square shape adds structure and attitude, while the milky polish keeps things understated and on-trend.—
Marci Robin,
Allure,
10 June 2026
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Rooms Each of the Douglas’s 16 rooms has its own distinct color palette, though all nod to the building’s historic roots in a refined, understated way.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
9 June 2026
Adjective
-
Elinor Dashwood is the epitome of Sense—self-contained, controlled, restrained.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 June 2026
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When a court issues a domestic violence protective order, federal law prohibits the restrained person from possessing a gun.—
Sativa Banks,
The Conversation,
4 June 2026
Adjective
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Being too conservative with long-term retirement money, parking it in cash or short-term bonds out of fear, can be just as damaging as taking on too much risk.—
Jonathan I. Shenkman,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
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The court, which has a conservative 6-3 majority, split along ideological lines when deciding Bruen in a case that expanded the Second Amendment right to bear arms outside the home.—
Maureen Groppe,
USA Today,
18 June 2026
Adjective
-
The Mount Royal Hotel, smack dab in the center of town, is a perfect example—its simple and unpretentious rooms are steps away from restaurants, bars, and hiking and biking trails.—
Rebecca Deurlein,
Travel + Leisure,
17 June 2026
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From the very first shots, we are taken in by an unpretentious filmmaker completely clear in his intention, someone who trusts both himself and us.—
Hilary Lewis,
HollywoodReporter,
11 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Low-key.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/low-key. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
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