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Definition of "low-key" []

  • Having low intensity; restrained, as in style or quality; subdued. (adjective)
  • Having or producing uniformly dark tones with few areas of contrast, as in a photograph or film. (adjective)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Use "low-key" in a sentence
  • "This is a low-key movie about coping with depression and anxiety, and it"
  • "She kept the rest of her look low-key with no-fuss hair and makeup, pairing the dress with bronze heels and a clutch."
  • "Despite nice stylistic flourishes by Fleck and Boden, showing Craig in the middle of fantasy moments, this is a low-key movie about coping with depression and anxiety."