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Demure vs Understated - What's the difference?

demure | understated |

As adjectives the difference between demure and understated

is that demure is quiet, modest, reserved, sober, or serious while understated is restrained and unpretentious.

As verbs the difference between demure and understated

is that demure is to look demurely while understated is past tense of understate.

demure

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Quiet, modest, reserved, sober, or serious.
    • She is a demure young lady.
  • * W. Black
    • Nan was very much delighted in her demure way, and that delight showed itself in her face and in her clear bright eyes.
  • * '>citation
  • Affectedly modest, decorous, or serious; making a show of gravity.
  • * L'Estrange
    • A cat lay, and looked so demure , as if there had been neither life nor soul in her.
  • * Miss Mitford
    • Miss Lizzy, I have no doubt, would be as demure and coquettish, as if ten winters more had gone over her head.

    Derived terms

    * demureness

    Verb

    (demur)
  • (obsolete) To look demurely.
    • Your wife Octavia, with her modest eyes... shall acquire no Honour Demuring upon me.'' – Shakespeare (1623) ''Antony & Cleopatra Act 4, Sc 16, Ln 30

    understated

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Restrained and unpretentious.

    • Verb

    (head)
  • (understate)