variants
also low-keyed
as in subdued
not excessively showy
hoping to make a good impression, he deliberately chose a low-key tie with a subtle pattern
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of low-key
One of Pinterest's biggest home trends of last year, this space is meant to emphasize comfort and make natural lighting the focal point, providing you with an at-home getaway to curl up with a book or host a low-key hangout.
—
Kristine Gill, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Feb. 2025
What follows unspools like a low-key thriller, something just psychosexual enough for Patricia Highsmith to have written, as Anne quickly becomes the lead suspect in whatever may have happened to her husband.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 16 Feb. 2025
Your best bet is to just take it easy and play things low-key.
—Georgia Nicols, The Denver Post, 16 Feb. 2025
Jackie and Adam Sandler are a pretty low-key couple for a pair of actors that have appeared in at least 20 movies together since falling in love on set of Big Daddy.
—Glamour, 15 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for low-key
Kristine Gill, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Feb. 2025
What follows unspools like a low-key thriller, something just psychosexual enough for Patricia Highsmith to have written, as Anne quickly becomes the lead suspect in whatever may have happened to her husband.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 16 Feb. 2025
Your best bet is to just take it easy and play things low-key.
—Georgia Nicols, The Denver Post, 16 Feb. 2025
Jackie and Adam Sandler are a pretty low-key couple for a pair of actors that have appeared in at least 20 movies together since falling in love on set of Big Daddy.
—Glamour, 15 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for low-key
Recent Examples of Synonyms for low-key
Adjective
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Last year, Marina traded the glitz and glam of her pop persona for the more subdued reflections of a poet.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
21 Feb. 2025
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The analyst contended that while Amazon issued a subdued outlook and announced a huge increase in capital expenditure, its margins surpassed expectations and the cloud business AWS (Amazon Web Services) fared better than its peers.—
TipRanks.com Staff,
CNBC,
16 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Both looks seem to make a subtle and understated reference to the yellow American lotus flower.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
15 Feb. 2025
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Goggins is playing at the most understated end of his range, as Rick is for the most part emotionally closed off and tight-lipped.—
Alan Sepinwall,
Rolling Stone,
11 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Zhang films the turbulent yet nuanced action in dry, restrained tableaux of an elusive lyricism, a poetry that, to match Beibei’s relentless pursuits, remains just out of reach.—
Richard Brody,
The New Yorker,
29 Jan. 2025
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Some folks might overstate the likely influence of those who call for a more restrained U.S. approach to the world within a second Trump administration, the scholars wrote in the opinion piece.—
Cory Smith,
Baltimore Sun,
23 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Available in both a cheerful yellow daffodil and a muted pastel lavender, this handbag can add a vibrant statement to your outfit or a subtle pop of color.—
Caley Sturgill,
Southern Living,
17 Feb. 2025
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Lenna Denim Sand Area Rug Vintage lovers should consider this smaller rug, with a retro-looking framed pattern featuring muted tans, deep blues, and burgundy accents.—
Shea Simmons,
People.com,
17 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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For an eclectic range of live music, from blues and jazz to Santana cover bands, Centro Cultural Breton is a small, unpretentious venue (cover typically 50 to 200 pesos) that has a following among local musicians and music lovers.—
Freda Moon,
New York Times,
13 Feb. 2025
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These eateries emphasize quality ingredients and straightforward preparation, offering a warm, unpretentious dining experience.—
Carissa & Dino Tozzi,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Its simple style can be dressed up with your best evening wear or paired with casual outfits to be your next wardrobe staple.—
Caley Sturgill,
Southern Living,
17 Feb. 2025
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Yellow is the simplest, and purple is the most difficult.—
New York Times Games,
New York Times,
17 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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So rather than maintain the quiet, peaceful sleep environment any young child needs, her daughter found her serenity disrupted by the sound of her mom crashing to the floor having tried to sit on a chair that simply wasn't there.—
David Faris,
Newsweek,
27 Feb. 2025
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The brand’s floral patterns symbolize joy, beauty and the timeless love of bold abstraction in an era of quiet luxury.—
Nadja Sayej,
Forbes,
27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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While Chiuri has been criticized by some for playing it safe with commercial collections that helped to turbocharge Dior’s growth, Prigent gradually understood her messaging is anything but conservative.—
Joelle Diderich,
WWD,
27 Feb. 2025
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His own systematic thinking and interest in the workings of worldly power led him to become a conservative Catholic.—
George Packer,
The Atlantic,
27 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Low-key.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/low-key. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
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