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

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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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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
So the dinner is back on, though in subdued fashion, and with an acknowledgment of the April disruption. — Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 24 July 2026 Without them, some would feel even bigger, more raw and dramatic, but others — especially in America, where many neutrals came specifically for the spectacle rather than for either team — could feel subdued and forgotten. — Henry Bushnell, New York Times, 21 July 2026
Verb
Earlier this year, a gunman from California stormed a security checkpoint at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner and exchanged fire with Secret Service agents before being subdued. — Antonio Pequeño Iv, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2026 After a quiet moment, the family returned to their rental car, the older half subdued, the younger half seemingly unfazed, and began the roughly 45‑minute drive back to their South Maui resort in Wailea. — David Dickstein, Oc Register, 5 Aug. 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
  • Jolly’s stance is more muted than that of many Democrats who oppose Amendment 3.
    — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Rather than sticking to traditional off-white or ivory, the collection also includes muted shades like hay, hazelnut, and olive, giving sheer linen curtains a richer, more unexpected twist.
    — Nina Derwin, Architectural Digest, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of muted
Verb
  • Within years, the iconoclastic comic was a weary and defeated man — broke, baggy-eyed, and prematurely old.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Alaves defeated 10-man Getafe 3-0 and Sevilla rallied to beat Rayo Vallecano 2-1.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of defeated
Verb
  • Domestically, the group dominated the awards circuit during their rookie year – earning the Next Generation Award at the 2026 Golden Disc Awards.
    — Laura Sirikul, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2026
  • The pharmaceutical giant has sought out new avenues of success with cancer-treatment drugs and to catch up with its competitors, which have dominated the market for weight-loss medications.
    — Sam Jacobs, Time, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of dominated
Verb
  • Tests between -112°F and 68°F showed no exothermic peaks associated with water crystallization, indicating that ice formation was suppressed in the hydrogel.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Ukraine's air force said Russia launched 147 drones of various types in its latest barrage, of which 111 were shot down or otherwise suppressed.
    — David Brennan, ABC News, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of suppressed
Adjective
  • The formula is closer to reserved + low-energy + emotionally restrained + literal + technocratic + untheatrical + less visionary + less attention-seeking.
    — Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
  • The man has been robbed, restrained and bound in Chicago before being taken to Harvey and left there, the news release said.
    — Evy Lewis, Chicago Tribune, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of restrained
Verb
  • Howard Dean, the former Vermont governor who became chair after his 2004 Presidential campaign, told me that part of the job is learning how to tune out the complaints, something Martin has apparently not yet mastered.
    — Ruby Cramer, New Yorker, 13 Aug. 2026
  • And for me right now, the Weeknd, whatever that is, it’s been mastered.
    — Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of mastered
Verb
  • By contrast, when the Russians conquered Polatsk, in modern Belarus, in 1563, Ivan reportedly ordered the drowning of all Jews who refused to convert to Christianity.
    — Foreign Affairs, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026
  • The Art of Loving conquered the rankings for a month, while Messy peaked in second place on both rundowns.
    — Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of conquered
Verb
  • Coach Regis Le Bris appears to have quelled that for this summer, citing a lack of other striking options beyond Brian Brobbey in a season where his side have European football to contend with on top of domestic matters.
    — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Reading it immediately quells, or at least quelled my own, paranoia at being alone in the middle of the forest—nobody is getting got here, there’s a gate that only opens if the concierge approves of your face, voice, and name.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Aug. 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 21 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of subdued for Spanish Speakers

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