as in muted
not excessively showy
after such a heated argument, it was a relief to hear someone use toned-down language to state their position
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Recent Examples of toned-down
Laurie Brookins, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Its colorful striped pattern is toned-down ever so slightly by a pair of fashion flip-flops from Massimo Dutti and Haight’s chestnut-colored swimsuit.
—Laura Jackson, Vogue, 4 July 2024
For her, that meant toned-down, muted pinks and mauve desert tones.
—Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Mar. 2024
Adjective
Perhaps another reason is that, with the exception of a few suits, men’s looks at the Grammys largely were underwhelming, and that may have also been the result of wanting to look more toned-down out of respect for victims of the wildfires.
—Laurie Brookins, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Its colorful striped pattern is toned-down ever so slightly by a pair of fashion flip-flops from Massimo Dutti and Haight’s chestnut-colored swimsuit.
—Laura Jackson, Vogue, 4 July 2024
For her, that meant toned-down, muted pinks and mauve desert tones.
—Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Mar. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for toned-down
Adjective
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Hadid’s makeup included softer elements, like faint brows and a muted lip to accentuate her look.—
Julia Teti,
WWD,
14 Mar. 2025
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However, the muted consumer and producer price reports for February might not necessarily be good news for the U.S. Federal Reserve.—
Yeo Boon Ping,
CNBC,
14 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
The Princess of Wales styled an Alexander McQueen coat in a subdued shade of green with Ralph Lauren over-the-knee boots.—
Julia Teti,
WWD,
17 Mar. 2025
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Skewing your green selections toward a more earthy aesthetic will help set a more subdued tone that helps enhance your room’s overall design rather than trying to steal the show.—
Patricia Shannon,
Southern Living,
29 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
After a period of quiet, Adultery is Poison Pen’s debut commission.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
11 Mar. 2025
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While a flurry of trades and new contracts marked an early start to free agency this week, the Chargers have stayed quiet.—
Thuc Nhi Nguyen,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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His restrained direction keeps the brothers in check and underpowered.—
Charles McNulty,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Mar. 2025
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The statement, written by lawmakers who are typically more restrained in their comments given their sensitive roles on security issues, contained some of the party’s most pointed criticism yet of Mr. Trump and Mr. Musk just hours before the president was to address a joint session of Congress.—
Carl Hulse,
New York Times,
5 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Ball, known for her unparalleled comedic timing, brings her signature wit and warmth to Helen, while Fonda plays Frank with a gentle humor and understated charm, all in service of promoting the film’s post-war optimism about blending families and building new lives.—
Travis Bean,
Forbes,
8 Mar. 2025
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The picture is sultry and understated, almost like a Sade song in movie form, though in some ways that’s a liability.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
TIME,
6 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The final amount could be affected by two factors — the number of claims and how much of the settlement fund is reduced to cover legal fees and costs.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
3 Jan. 2025
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Liver damage can be reduced if the person stops drinking.—
George Petras,
USA TODAY,
3 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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The report came from the Maine Wire, an online outlet founded by a conservative think tank based in the state.—
Jennifer Smith Richards,
ProPublica,
11 Mar. 2025
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Well wishes came in comments from friends including model Brooks Nader, country singer Jessie James Decker, conservative commentator Candace Owens, stylist and TV personality Jeannie Mai and designer Nicky Hilton Rothschild.—
Christie D’Zurilla,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Lepers’s case study offers a test of whether the same is true in your 50s, or whether the body’s adaptive potential is so blunted that some of the losses become permanent.—
Alex Hutchinson,
Outside Online,
23 Dec. 2024
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On a third day, exercising afterwards blunted my Lingo Count by a few points.—
Meg Tirrell,
CNN,
29 Nov. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Toned-down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/toned-down. Accessed 26 Mar. 2025.
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