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
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
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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Since Election Day, there has been a muted—but nearly universal—grumbling about Biden’s choices, mostly since the 2022 midterms that saw Democrats fare better than expected, building up the party’s hope in holding on to the White House in 2024.Philip Elliott, TIME, 13 Jan. 2025
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Contemporary yet refined, this hotel offers 104 rooms, each with a muted palette of blues, tans, and oranges, and plenty of communal spaces to get a taste of the city’s vibrant culture.Michaela Trimble, Vogue, 12 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Wall Street is rallying Friday after a subdued start to 2025 in the prior session.Paulina Likos, CNBC, 3 Jan. 2025
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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
Adjective
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The work reverberates with quiet yet powerful symbolism paying tribute to Gonzalez’s deep roots in San Antonio and her significant contributions to the community.Chadd Scott, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025
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The film centers on Clémence, a quiet yet amusing Parisian, who had a complicated childhood.Leo Barraclough, Variety, 10 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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But Judge Declines to Impose Punishment General News How the L.A. Wildfires Are Becoming a Conspiracy-Theorists' Haven -- and a Political Weapon Locals long have prized Palm Beach for its restrained serenity.Beth Landman, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Jan. 2025
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On the other hand, every action, inaction and reaction remains uncannily familiar, making Chowdhury’s restrained approach feel like the right one.Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 17 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Blue bloods are the most elite programs in college football like Notre Dame and Penn State, recognized for a more understated on-the-field presence.Kate Aguilar / Made by History, TIME, 9 Jan. 2025
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At Carolina Herrera, lightly glossed plum lip stains took centre stage, while at Grace Ling, lips were dressed in an understated nude, blurred at the edges.Rebecca Fearn, refinery29.com, 6 Jan. 2025
Verb
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O'Reilly said that the police department reduced the number of abuse complaints and use of Taser, which had been leading to costly lawsuits.Niraj Warikoo, Detroit Free Press, 3 Jan. 2025
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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
Adjective
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The sentiment was echoed by former Fox host and conservative podcaster Megyn Kelly.CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 10 Jan. 2025
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Whatever cranky conservative quip Allen fires off is sanded down by the balance Dennings brings to the breakfast table.Erik Kain, Forbes, 10 Jan. 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
Thesaurus Entries Near toned-down
Cite this Entry
“Toned-down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/toned-down. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.
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