as in muted
not excessively showy
the actor's understated interpretation of the lead role is surprisingly compelling
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in minimized
to say that (something) is smaller, less important, etc., than it really is
He understated his taxable income. She's trying to understate the issue/problem.
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of understated
Julia Teti, Footwear News, 12 Sep. 2025
Rooms and Suites The Langham offers 380 rooms and suites that shift from understated guest rooms in creams and soft greys to sprawling residences large enough to house a family.
—Lauren Mowery, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Regan Stephens, Travel + Leisure, 28 Aug. 2025
The moment is understated and wholly romantic — a meeting, if not a harmony, of hearts and minds.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for understated
Adjective
Moore’s approach married her understated elegance with Bottega Veneta’s designs.
—Julia Teti, Footwear News, 12 Sep. 2025
Rooms and Suites The Langham offers 380 rooms and suites that shift from understated guest rooms in creams and soft greys to sprawling residences large enough to house a family.
—Lauren Mowery, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
The renovation prioritized understated, high-quality materials like wood, wool, stone, and ceramics.
—Regan Stephens, Travel + Leisure, 28 Aug. 2025
The moment is understated and wholly romantic — a meeting, if not a harmony, of hearts and minds.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for understated
Recent Examples of Synonyms for understated
Adjective
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Markets were relatively muted on Friday.—
Jeff Marks,
CNBC,
12 Sep. 2025
-
The soft, muted tones of the jewels and beads used throughout the garment created an incandescent quality.—
Julia Teti,
Footwear News,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Officials repeatedly minimized fire risks and touted the benefits of letting the fire burn, according to The Republic's findings.—
Rey Covarrubias Jr,
USA Today,
9 Sep. 2025
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Context switching is minimized.—
Paul Kovalenko,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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On highways and surface roads in the rural countryside west of Detroit, the 2025 Ford Explorer was smooth and quiet, with plenty of power for highway acceleration.—
Mark Phelan,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
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The peak of hurricane season is here, and activity could soon ramp up, despite the relative quiet currently occurring in the tropics, according to meteorologists.—
Julia Jacobo,
ABC News,
10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The visual design of the new BMW iX3 harks back to the original Neue Klasse at the front, with a more subdued grille than recent models.—
James Morris,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
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Prior to that, the castle had a more classical look, with creams and grays and blue accents that were more subdued than the current shades in use.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Miami’s cartophile Argentine defender Tomas Aviles saw his second yellow of the night after pulling back Toklomati and was dismissed in the 79th minute, leaving Messi and his teammates down a man for the final stages.—
The Athletic Staff,
New York Times,
14 Sep. 2025
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Fletcher, who was considered a strong contender for a state Senate seat in March 2023 when Figueroa filed her complaint, spoke publicly Friday about the allegations one month after a judge dismissed it.—
Jeff McDonald,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Climate scientists have long been vexed by the disconnect between the dire warnings blared by their models and the restrained policies enacted by world leaders.—
Zack Savitsky,
Quanta Magazine,
15 Sep. 2025
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There is nothing restrained about the family room, with brick walls that feature a bright splash of chartreuse (Benjamin Moore’s Wasabi, AF-430).—
Jeanne Lyons Davis,
Southern Living,
14 Sep. 2025
Verb
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But experts on the group have downplayed the evidence released so far.—
Richard Hall,
Time,
13 Sep. 2025
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The Chiefs have since downplayed any lingering fallout from the tense TV moment.—
Pete Sweeney,
Kansas City Star,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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While some among Democrats cast him as the party’s national leader and a natural choice for their 2028 nominee, conservative critics point to his past controversies, including other pay-for-play stories.—
Robert Schmad,
The Washington Examiner,
10 Sep. 2025
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After working as a speechwriter in former President Ronald Reagan's administration, Ingraham pursued a law degree and became a conservative media darling.—
Jay Stahl,
USA Today,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Understated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/understated. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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