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
Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 16 Mar. 2026
Genimo Outdoor Area Rug For a rug that’s elegant but more subdued, look no further than this option from Genimo.
—Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 13 Mar. 2026
Emma Tucker, CNN Money, 13 Mar. 2026
While Donahoe’s original narrator was a bit more tender and subdued, Radcliffe is a frenetic force.
—Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for subdued
Adjective
That path made for a decidedly different feel at Galen Center on Sunday, as the team traded the huge selection show celebration from last season for a more intimate, subdued set-up in a small room.
—Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 16 Mar. 2026
Genimo Outdoor Area Rug For a rug that’s elegant but more subdued, look no further than this option from Genimo.
—Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 13 Mar. 2026
Verb
The students subdued and killed the shooter, said FBI Special Agent in Charge Dominique Evans.
—Emma Tucker, CNN Money, 13 Mar. 2026
While Donahoe’s original narrator was a bit more tender and subdued, Radcliffe is a frenetic force.
—Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for subdued
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subdued
Adjective
-
The cautious move in oil prices and relatively muted decline in Treasury yields suggest investors remain somewhat skeptical about an immediate end to the war.—
John Towfighi,
CNN Money,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Calm interiors in muted shades of sand and tan do not overpower the landscape, which is the star of the show.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The women carried their burden with grace and defeated Notre Dame.—
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Adam Sykora broke a scoreless tie early in the third period and Igor Shesterkin made 27 saves and the New York Rangers defeated the Florida Panthers 3-1 on Sunday.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Neemias Queta dominated inside against a Bucks team that was playing without two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, racking up 19 points on 8-of-11 shooting, 10 rebounds and four blocks in his second straight double-double.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
4 Apr. 2026
-
The Huskies were also dominated on the glass, with South Carolina holding a 47-32 advantage.—
David Brandt,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
That melatonin your brain just started producing gets suppressed again immediately.—
Allison Palmer,
Miami Herald,
31 Mar. 2026
-
That means speech around controversial issues, diet and fitness, mental health topics, sexuality, and much more will be suppressed.—
Elizabeth Nolan Brown,
Oc Register,
26 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Even within a restrained palette, a strong silhouette can shift the entire room.—
Angelika Pokovba,
Martha Stewart,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Ashe is a rocket ship that can’t be reined in, and watching the restrained, comparably rational Coop try to lasso him is reliably entertaining.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Amanda Peet shows she's mastered her street style in New York City on March 31.—
Katie Hill,
PEOPLE,
1 Apr. 2026
-
The same can be said of Underwood, who has mastered the art of the pained expression like no one in the Big Ten since Bobby Knight.—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The Japanese conquered the Philippines, Guam, Wake Island.—
Gil Troy,
New York Daily News,
29 Mar. 2026
-
By the 1770s, Linnaeus had pretty much conquered Europe—all, that is, except for the King’s Garden in Paris, where Georges Buffon, the garden’s director, adamantly rejected his system as arbitrary and artificial.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Redick shouted out Bronny James for his efforts against Indiana after the game, lauding his defensive intensity – often being switched onto Pacers All-Star forward Pascal Siakam, and holding his own – along with a late mid-range jumper that quelled concerns of a once-improbable Indiana comeback.—
Benjamin Royer,
Oc Register,
26 Mar. 2026
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The shooter killed an instructor and wounded two others before the ROTC cadets attacked him and quelled the threat, showing incredible bravery in the face of danger.—
Nicole Russell,
USA Today,
26 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Subdued.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subdued. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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