low-key

adjective

ˈlō-ˈkē How to pronounce low-key (audio)
variants also low-keyed
Definition of low-keynext
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

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 low-key The investigative journalism outlet operates from a low-key office tucked into a historic Budapest building. — Dominique Soguel, Christian Science Monitor, 13 Oct. 2026 The statement-making jeans was styled with a low-key long-sleeve T-shirt and black boots. — Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026 The result is a content-generating extravaganza that veers deeper into runway show territory than low-key industry appointment. — Madeleine Schulz, Vogue, 8 Oct. 2026 Gibson Elite Pasco Dinnerware Set Stoneware is the practical choice for everyday dishes—sturdy enough for weeknight use and handsome enough for low-key dinner parties. — Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 6 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for low-key
Recent Examples of Synonyms for low-key
  1. quiet
  2. muted
  3. subdued
  4. understated
  5. restrained
  6. conservative
  7. unpretentious
Adjective
  • After a quiet day otherwise, Riley exploded for 33- and 72-yard rushing touchdowns to finish as the game’s leading rusher with 128 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries.
    — Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 25 Oct. 2026
  • But following intense backlash to the 2024 anti-war protests, some students, faculty and external observers say campuses have become uncharacteristically quiet.
    — Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of quiet
Adjective
  • The corporate nerve center is clad in the company palette of muted grays and bright-red accents.
    — Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Volumes were very muted Monday for the first extended session for stocks.
    — Oliver Renick,Tyler Bailey, CNBC, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of muted
Adjective
  • Oddly enough, her two Best Actress plays are both black-and-white, European period pieces, but while Rose is full of gender-bending swagger, Fatherland is a more subdued performance.
    — Nate Jones, Vulture, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Making waves across industries like fashion, beauty, and even interior design, the sensual shade feels more subdued and high-end than alternative reds while being easy to style in the cold-weather months.
    — Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of subdued
Adjective
  • Kerry Washington and Gemma Chan made the case for understated elegance, while Lauryn Hill and True Whitaker embraced a more experimental streak.
    — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Very clean and modern yet with understated nods to place—subtle Hawaiian patterns, a discreet pineapple print on pillows, natural textures.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of understated
Adjective
  • Her perspective—consistently serene and largely without self-interest—lends the novel a restrained and gently contemplative tone.
    — Natasha O'Neill, Vanity Fair, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The hotel interprets this mantra through balanced proportions, restrained interiors, and a hospitality approach that favors comfort over excess.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of restrained
Adjective
  • Davis’s letter follows a separate ethics complaint filed by a conservative watchdog group to the Senate Select Committee on Ethics over Slotkin’s University of Chicago remarks, first reported by the Washington Examiner on Tuesday.
    — Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The American Legislative Exchange Council, a conservative group of state legislators and private-sector members, cast it as part of a growing bipartisan movement and urged the remaining states to follow.
    — Lara Murray-Sterzel, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of conservative
Adjective
  • The unpretentious city is dotted with temporary staffing agencies, money-wiring businesses and Mexican restaurants.
    — Melissa Sanchez, ProPublica, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Widow’s Bay Sorry, but that murderers’ row of unpretentious acting talent isn’t going to be topped.
    — Sean T. Collins, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of unpretentious

Browse Nearby Words

low-grade
low-key
lowland
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Cite this Entry

“Low-key.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/low-key. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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