subdued
adjective
sub·dued səb-ˈdüd 
-ˈdyüd
: lacking in vitality, intensity, or strength
subdued colors
subduedly
səb-ˈdü(-ə)d-lē
adverb -ˈdyü(-ə)d-
Synonyms
- conservative
- low-key
- low-keyed
- muted
- quiet
- repressed
- restrained
- sober
- toned-down
- understated
- unflashy
- unpretentious
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
She spoke in a subdued voice. The color in the lobby is subdued.
Recent Examples on the Web This morning is getting off to a fabulous start, though, as a delightfully cool breeze and warm sun are enveloping the subdued Pharmalot campus, where the official mascot is snoozing nearby. 
Ed Silverman, STAT, 16 Sep. 2022 But the subdued market reaction also demonstrates that Ethereum and the crypto industry need more than the merge to pull themselves out of crypto winter. Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 15 Sep. 2022 And last year’s posthumous Silverview, sleek and elegant and subdued, was a gratifying return to his world. Chloe Schama, Vogue, 14 Sep. 2022 The performance is surprising — more subdued and soft than people may have been expecting (and the accent, while slightly unsteady at times, is strong enough to keep up with her heavyweight performance). Kathleen Newman-bremang, refinery29.com, 13 Sep. 2022 In all of this, the crown sits on the head of a kindly, subdued man, undervalued all his life. Tunku Varadarajan, WSJ, 11 Sep. 2022 Still, even that inevitable milestone might seem somewhat subdued. Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2022 The subdued production places a strong spotlight on Parton’s timeless lyrics about workplace equality, which are just as powerful (and sadly, still painfully relevant) 40 years after the original’s release. Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 9 Sep. 2022 An animated adaptation of three Haruki Murakami short stories that recreates the Japanese author’s subdued surrealism. Ben Croll, Variety, 8 Sep. 2022 See More
Ed Silverman, STAT, 16 Sep. 2022 But the subdued market reaction also demonstrates that Ethereum and the crypto industry need more than the merge to pull themselves out of crypto winter. Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 15 Sep. 2022 And last year’s posthumous Silverview, sleek and elegant and subdued, was a gratifying return to his world. Chloe Schama, Vogue, 14 Sep. 2022 The performance is surprising — more subdued and soft than people may have been expecting (and the accent, while slightly unsteady at times, is strong enough to keep up with her heavyweight performance). Kathleen Newman-bremang, refinery29.com, 13 Sep. 2022 In all of this, the crown sits on the head of a kindly, subdued man, undervalued all his life. Tunku Varadarajan, WSJ, 11 Sep. 2022 Still, even that inevitable milestone might seem somewhat subdued. Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2022 The subdued production places a strong spotlight on Parton’s timeless lyrics about workplace equality, which are just as powerful (and sadly, still painfully relevant) 40 years after the original’s release. Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 9 Sep. 2022 An animated adaptation of three Haruki Murakami short stories that recreates the Japanese author’s subdued surrealism. Ben Croll, Variety, 8 Sep. 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
1785, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
subdued
adjective
sub·dued səb-ˈdüd
-ˈdyüd
: lacking in liveliness, intensity, or strength
a subdued voice
subdued 1 of 2
adjective
as in muted
not excessively showy the wedding was a subdued affair, with only close family and friends attending Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- muted
- restrained
- quiet
- understated
- repressed
- low-keyed
- conservative
- low-key
- toned-down
- sober
- simple
- unpretentious
- unflashy
- proper
- appropriate
- fitting
- modest
- suitable
- handsome
- plain
- graceful
- unadorned
- inconspicuous
- unobtrusive
- becoming
- fit
- undecorated
- sensible
- drab
- tasteful
- unnoticeable
- practical
- refined
- mousy
- mousey
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- loud
- flamboyant
- gaudy
- noisy
- garish
- flashy
- ostentatious
- swanky
- glitzy
- splashy
- swank
- flaring
- vulgar
- meretricious
- tacky
- tawdry
- tasteless
- gilded
- fancy
- inelegant
- ornate
- overwrought
- trashy
- razzle-dazzle
- baroque
- graceless
- frilly
- gilt
- rococo
- overdone
- overdecorated
subdued
2 of 2verb
1
as in defeated
to achieve a victory over subdued her fear of the dark by joining a club for spelunkers Synonyms & Similar Words
- defeated
- overcame
- mastered
- conquered
- beat
- stopped
- dispatched
- got
- took
- bested
- surmounted
- succeeded
- trimmed
- worsted
- overmatched
- upended
- overwhelmed
- licked
- finished
- got around
- skunked
- swept
- buried
- crushed
- upset
- got the better of
- slaughtered
- overpowered
- flattened
- annihilated
- triumphed (over)
- surpassed
- prevailed (over)
- subjugated
- did down
- vanquished
- knocked for a loop
- whipped
- excelled
- clobbered
- overbore
- thrashed
- flourished
- won (against)
- trounced
- skinned
- exceeded
- routed
- bombed
- capped
- scored
- topped
- blew out
- transcended
- excelled
- waxed
- eclipsed
- shellacked
- smoked
- pipped
- nosed out
- blew away
- outstripped
- creamed
- outshone
- walloped
- snowed under
- bettered
- outdid
- outdistanced
- knocked over
- unseated
- broke
- overthrew
- knocked off
- drubbed
- outshined
- outfought
- overtopped
- edged (out)
- aced (out)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- lost (to)
- fell
- collapsed
- failed
- went down
- washed out
- folded
- gave up
- went under
- flopped
- flunked
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
- dominated
- conquered
- subjected
- defeated
- overpowered
- subjugated
- pacified
- vanquished
- reduced
- overcame
- enslaved
- subordinated
- crushed
- suppressed
- annihilated
- beat
- quelled
- smashed
- whipped
- clobbered
- thrashed
- trounced
- repressed
- routed
- licked
- silenced
- smothered
- squelched
- walloped
- quashed
- squashed
- drubbed
- skunked
- triumphed (over)
- prevailed (over)
- put down
- mowed (down)
- broke
- snuffed (out)
- cracked down (on)
- clamped down (on)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- liberated
- freed
- released
- discharged
- emancipated
- sprung
- sprang
- enfranchised
- unbound
- unfettered
- manumitted
- unchained
- uncaged
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
- suppressed
- quelled
- repressed
- stifled
- silenced
- crushed
- squelched
- destroyed
- quashed
- extinguished
- squashed
- sat on
- overcame
- slapped down
- dominated
- overpowered
- obliterated
- demolished
- subjugated
- smothered
- doused
- vanquished
- strangled
- annihilated
- cracked down (on)
- decimated
- overwhelmed
- desolated
- quenched
- clamped down (on)
- throttled
- conquered
- put down
- ruined
- snuffed (out)
- wrecked
- exterminated
- devastated
- smashed
- wiped out
- wasted
- put out
- dowsed
- nuked
- rubbed out
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- aided
- supported
- assisted
- helped
- backed
- abetted
- provoked
- stirred
- incited
- encouraged
- cultivated
- propped up
- instigated
- whipped (up)
- advanced
- fostered
- promoted
- nourished
- nurtured
- fomented
- furthered
- forwarded
- deadweight capacity
- deadweight safety valve
- deadweight ton
- deadweight tonnage
- deadweights
- deadwood
- deadwood fence
- deadwoods
- deadzones
- deaerate
- deaerated
- deaerates
- deaerating
- deaeration
- deaerations
- deaerator
- deaerators
- deaf
- deaf adder
- deaf and dumb
- deaf ear
- deaf nettle
- deaf nut
- deaf to reason
- deaf-aid