subdued

adjective

sub·​dued səb-ˈdüd How to pronounce subdued (audio)
-ˈdyüd
: lacking in vitality, intensity, or strength
subdued colors
subduedly
səb-ˈdü(-ə)d-lē How to pronounce subdued (audio)
-ˈdyü(-ə)d-
adverb

Examples of subdued in a Sentence

She spoke in a subdued voice. The color in the lobby is subdued.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Wall Street is rallying Friday after a subdued start to 2025 in the prior session. Paulina Likos, CNBC, 3 Jan. 2025 Less than two weeks after President John F. Kennedy was assassinated, an Army-Navy football game played in front of a crowd of 102,000 spectators at Philadelphia’s Municipal Stadium on December 7, 1963, might have been a subdued and somber affair. Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 Dec. 2024 The race, which did not feature a competitive primary, began as a subdued affair. Daniel Bice, Journal Sentinel, 6 Nov. 2024 Even a traditional white marble fireplace can have an impact in a subdued way when paired with a corresponding wall paint color. Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 20 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for subdued 

Word History

First Known Use

1785, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of subdued was in 1785

Dictionary Entries Near subdued

Cite this Entry

“Subdued.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/subdued. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

subdued

adjective
: lacking in liveliness, intensity, or strength
subdued colors

More from Merriam-Webster on subdued

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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