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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of subdued
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Apr. 2026
The more subdued arrival extended beyond the flight.
—Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 14 Apr. 2026
Will Walters, STAT, 23 Apr. 2026
With a clean swoop, Miller had the animal subdued and sedated.
—Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 21 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for subdued
Adjective
Here, the spa is much smaller and more subdued in design, although the same treatments are offered.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Apr. 2026
The more subdued arrival extended beyond the flight.
—Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 14 Apr. 2026
Verb
If the past year has been marked by rapid structural change, the present moment appears comparatively subdued.
—Will Walters, STAT, 23 Apr. 2026
With a clean swoop, Miller had the animal subdued and sedated.
—Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 21 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for subdued
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subdued
Adjective
-
Its pretty plaid is in muted tones on good-quality, abrasion-resistant material, with a minimalist shape that anchors a room.—
Gretta Monahan,
Boston Herald,
30 Apr. 2026
-
In their own muted ways, her colleagues agreed.—
Mark Dee
April 28,
Idaho Statesman,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Atletico earned a spot in the final four courtesy of a quarter-final victory against Spanish rivals Barcelona, while Arsenal defeated Portuguese side Sporting CP.—
The Athletic Live Team,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Huarte defeated Woodbridge senior Brady Tallakson 7-6 (3), 6-1 in the CIF boys final at Libbey Park to capture the title one year after falling in the championship match.—
Dan Albano,
Oc Register,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Another, from 2009, is dominated by the profile of what appears to be a guard dog gripping a black hunk of something unidentifiable.—
Ben Davis,
The New York Review of Books,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Until now, scientists believed those oceans were dominated almost entirely by vertebrate predators — fish, reptiles and eventually marine mammals.—
Ryan Brennan,
Kansas City Star,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The 2021 army takeover triggered massive public resistance that was brutally suppressed, triggering a bloody civil war that has killed thousands of people.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
30 Apr. 2026
-
The market value of media and entertainment stocks remains suppressed, however, amid intensifying competition from tech and streaming companies.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
To the left is a relaxed deck for post-dip chilling; to the right is the beautifully restrained restaurant, partly enclosed in a glasshouse with an undulating canopy roof.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Neither restrained nor overpowering.—
Brock Keeling,
Oc Register,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
That is precisely the trick Audi has mastered.—
Chris Jackson,
Denver Post,
24 Apr. 2026
-
The pair have mastered the couples' pic while on their travels together.—
Diane J. Cho,
PEOPLE,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
With over 40 years of experience and a heritage rooted in the prestigious Valmont Clinic on the Swiss Riviera, the brand has conquered the world of skincare, combining advanced science, the purest natural ingredients from the Alps, and an unmistakable artistic sensibility.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Admittedly, the company conquered the market in large part by achieving a dramatic reduction in launch costs.—
Ben Tarnoff,
Big Think,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Anxiety quelled, the party starts back up, with Bambaataa spinning a record by James Brown.—
Doreen St. Félix,
New Yorker,
25 Apr. 2026
-
What could not be as easily quelled were the puns.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Subdued.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subdued. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
