subdued 1 of 2

adjective

səb-ˈdüd How to pronounce subdued (audio)
Definition of subduednext
as in muted
not excessively showy the wedding was a subdued affair, with only close family and friends attending

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

subdued

2 of 2

verb

past tense of subdue
1
as in defeated
to achieve a victory over subdued her fear of the dark by joining a club for spelunkers

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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

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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

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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 subdued
Adjective
Color isn't absent from naturalistic gardens, but the palette tends to be tighter and more subdued. — Miranda Crowell, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 June 2026 The skirt suit look capitalized on modern restraint, with streamlined style and subdued elements throughout. — Julia Teti, Footwear News, 10 June 2026
Verb
Bland appeared subdued during the proceedings and at times struggled to keep her eyes open as prosecutors delivered their opening statements. — Steve Maugeri, CBS News, 22 June 2026 After Korten’s shimmering, intimate Emahoy-esque piano intro, the quartet sounds tame and subdued, mostly playing off sparse block chords and swung hi-hats. — Rae-Aila Crumble, Pitchfork, 25 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for subdued
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subdued
  1. muted
  2. defeated
  3. dominated
  4. suppressed
  5. restrained
  6. mastered
  7. conquered
  8. quelled
Adjective
  • Even though Clinton’s remarks Saturday received muted response on cable news due to the heatwave and Trump’s excesses, online the former President deftly tapped into the shifts among Democrats for a more combative approach to curb MAGA.
    — Dominic Patten, Deadline, 4 July 2026
  • Her bronzed makeup look consisted of taupe eyeshadow, black eyeliner, rosy cheeks, and a muted matte lip.
    — Hannah Malach, InStyle, 3 July 2026
Definition of muted
Verb
  • Norway defeated Brazil, while England emerged victorious against Mexico, taking them both through to the quarter-finals.
    — Leonie Kidd, CNBC, 6 July 2026
  • Without a pole, hook, or tree to climb, squirrels are left defeated and bereft.
    — Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 July 2026
Definition of defeated
Verb
  • In the first decisive victory of this tournament’s knockout stage, France dominated Sweden Tuesday with a 3-0 win that guaranteed the French another match this week.
    — Doha Madani, NBC news, 1 July 2026
  • Highlight reels are dominated by exceptional athletes doing exceptional things.
    — Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2026
Definition of dominated
Verb
  • The air force said that 37 missiles and 326 drones were shot down or otherwise suppressed, with impacts of 29 missiles and 18 drones reported across 34 locations.
    — David Brennan, ABC News, 6 July 2026
  • Security forces suppressed the protests in a bloody crackdown that killed thousands.
    — Babak Dehghanpisheh, NBC news, 3 July 2026
Definition of suppressed
Adjective
  • Since joining the winery, Melton has brought a restrained, classical sensibility to wines known for an ability to age.
    — Jill Barth, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
  • The world press was less restrained; the Post, the Daily Mail, the Hindustan Times, and many others ran screaming headlines, accompanied by photographs of the climbers purloined from social media.
    — William Finnegan, New Yorker, 29 June 2026
Definition of restrained
Verb
  • Faculty across the country increasingly report spending more time teaching skills that many students once mastered before arriving on campus.
    — Scott White, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026
  • Emma Chamberlain has mastered the art of the messy textured pixie.
    — Genesis Rivas, InStyle, 1 July 2026
Definition of mastered
Verb
  • The story here is how the Minions conquered Hollywood and became movie stars, which has charmed critics especially, with so many homages to classic Hollywood film.
    — Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
  • But Alexca, a bubbly toddler who giggles and runs about, has conquered her grandmother’s heart.
    — Julie Watson, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2026
Definition of conquered
Verb
  • Burke said Washington left Bedford, confident that the protest had been quelled through his diplomacy.
    — Salena Zito, Washington Post, 1 July 2026
  • But that hasn’t entirely quelled fears that the boom is just setting investors up for a bust when spending cools, a dynamic that has played out in past semiconductor cycles, which have been particularly painful for memory-chip makers.
    — Bloomberg, Mercury News, 24 June 2026
Definition of quelled

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Cite this Entry

“Subdued.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subdued. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on subdued

Nglish: Translation of subdued for Spanish Speakers

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