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
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of low-key
The artist-friendly festival takes pride in hosting a low-key environment that has been alluring to both young, up-and-coming comedians as well as some comedic legends.
—
Jason Mastrodonato, The Mercury News, 14 Jan. 2025
He has been replaced with Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-Va.), a low-key member of the right-wing House Freedom Caucus who rarely joins his colleagues' rebellions against leadership.
—Andrew Solender, Axios, 14 Jan. 2025
Big Kenny has been relatively low-key about his political views, standing in contrast to his bandmate, who has been an outspoken supporter of Trump and conservative stances over the years.
—Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 11 Jan. 2025
Aboard their two larger ships, Marina and Riviera, a private dining venue, aptly named Privée, hosts small groups (up to 10 per night) for low-key chef dinners.
—Ryan McCarthy, Saveur, 2 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for low-key 
Jason Mastrodonato, The Mercury News, 14 Jan. 2025
He has been replaced with Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-Va.), a low-key member of the right-wing House Freedom Caucus who rarely joins his colleagues' rebellions against leadership.
—Andrew Solender, Axios, 14 Jan. 2025
Big Kenny has been relatively low-key about his political views, standing in contrast to his bandmate, who has been an outspoken supporter of Trump and conservative stances over the years.
—Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 11 Jan. 2025
Aboard their two larger ships, Marina and Riviera, a private dining venue, aptly named Privée, hosts small groups (up to 10 per night) for low-key chef dinners.
—Ryan McCarthy, Saveur, 2 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for low-key
Recent Examples of Synonyms for low-key
Adjective
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Related Articles Tuesday’s interfaith service looked considerably more subdued than Monday night’s Inaugural Balls.—
Rosemary Feitelberg,
WWD,
21 Jan. 2025
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Victorian Era and British Royalty Eventually, British monarch Queen Victoria gave rise to the mourning brooch a more subdued but meaningful design in which a piece of the deceased's hair—in Victoria’s case, hair from Prince Albert—is incorporated into the design.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
18 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Clarke’s costume in act one, scene two, where Tatiana dreams of Onegin, is his most understated and could easily be plucked out of a Saint Laurent collection with its sheer, striped blouse paired with a velvet waistcoat.—
Hikmat Mohammed,
WWD,
23 Jan. 2025
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Paired with a classic black knit top and understated loafers, this outfit strikes a balance between professional and comfortable—ideal for Clare’s dynamic workday.—
Lilah Ramzi,
Vogue,
23 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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In this case, the Mechanical Watch Box goes for restrained elegance.—
David Szondy,
New Atlas,
22 Jan. 2025
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But four years later, after the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 had driven the president's approval rating to record highs and fueled a win in the popular vote as well as the Electoral College, the atmosphere was more restrained.—
Ron Elving,
NPR,
18 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Goldman Sachs analyst Eric Sheridan had a more muted view on shares of Netflix.—
Lisa Kailai Han,
CNBC,
22 Jan. 2025
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What To Know During his inauguration on January 20, Trump wore his traditional blue suit but swapped the bright red tie for something much more muted.—
Justin Gest,
Newsweek,
20 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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The Night Agent is a no-frills, unpretentious spy thriller that should please anyone who enjoys the genre.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes,
24 Jan. 2025
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On the unpretentious side were those for Thomas Jefferson and Jimmy Carter.—
Andrew Ross Sorkin,
New York Times,
20 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Chloe Legault took to TikTok the moment her boyfriend Louis' mom, Isabelle, took a simple task and made it into a heartfelt moment.—
Ashley Vega,
People.com,
24 Jan. 2025
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As long as a biopsy is done and it’s recognized early, there’s a very high chance of cure with very simple and minimally invasive procedures.—
Lauryn Higgins,
Flow Space,
24 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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All the preceding intrigue is really a setup for climactic dialogues between father and daughter that are quiet, unpleasant, but fully loaded with stinging emotional payoff.—
Dennis Harvey,
Variety,
22 Jan. 2025
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After going quiet briefly as emergency responders grappled to contain the multiple fires that destroyed entire neighborhoods and killed at least 27 people, De Laurentiis broke her silence.—
Madeleine Marr,
Miami Herald,
22 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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In recent years, DEI has become a social and political lightning rod for lawmakers, corporate leaders and conservative activists who have sought to cast such initiatives as unfair and even racist, with some emboldened by the Supreme Court’s gutting of affirmative action.—
Nicquel Terry Ellis,
CNN,
22 Jan. 2025
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At Costco’s annual meeting on Thursday, shareholders will vote on a proposal from the National Center for Public Policy Research, a conservative think tank, that would require the company to report on any potential risks diversity programs could pose to profits.—
Nell Gallogly,
New York Times,
22 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near low-key
Cite this Entry
“Low-key.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/low-key. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.
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