diff --git a/R/draws-index.R b/R/draws-index.R
index 8cdfa990..5f1109eb 100644
--- a/R/draws-index.R
+++ b/R/draws-index.R
@@ -478,15 +478,18 @@ ndraws.rvar <- function(x) {
 # @param regex should 'variables' be treated as regular expressions?
 # @param scalar_only should only scalar variables be matched?
 check_existing_variables <- function(variables, x, regex = FALSE,
-                                     scalar_only = FALSE) {
+                                     scalar_only = FALSE, exclude = FALSE) {
   check_draws_object(x)
   if (is.null(variables)) {
     return(NULL)
   }
+
   regex <- as_one_logical(regex)
   scalar_only <- as_one_logical(scalar_only)
+  exclude <- as_one_logical(exclude)
   variables <- unique(as.character(variables))
   all_variables <- variables(x, reserved = TRUE)
+  
   if (regex) {
     tmp <- named_list(variables)
     for (i in seq_along(variables)) {
@@ -529,6 +532,12 @@ check_existing_variables <- function(variables, x, regex = FALSE,
     stop_no_call("The following variables are missing in the draws object: ",
           comma(missing_variables))
   }
+
+  # handle excluding variables for subset_draws
+  if (exclude) {
+    variables <- setdiff(all_variables, variables)
+  }
+  
   invisible(variables)
 }
 
@@ -564,12 +573,13 @@ check_reserved_variables <- function(variables) {
 
 # check validity of iteration indices
 # @param unique should the returned IDs be unique?
-check_iteration_ids <- function(iteration_ids, x, unique = TRUE) {
+check_iteration_ids <- function(iteration_ids, x, unique = TRUE, exclude = FALSE) {
   check_draws_object(x)
   if (is.null(iteration_ids)) {
     return(NULL)
   }
   unique <- as_one_logical(unique)
+  exclude <- as_one_logical(exclude)
   iteration_ids <- as.integer(iteration_ids)
   if (unique) {
     iteration_ids <- unique(iteration_ids)
@@ -584,17 +594,24 @@ check_iteration_ids <- function(iteration_ids, x, unique = TRUE) {
     stop_no_call("Tried to subset iterations up to '", max_iteration, "' ",
           "but the object only has '", niterations, "' iterations.")
   }
+
+  # handle exclude iterations in subset_draws
+  if (exclude) {
+    iteration_ids <- setdiff(iteration_ids(x), iteration_ids)
+  }
+  
   invisible(iteration_ids)
 }
 
 # check validity of chain indices
 # @param unique should the returned IDs be unique?
-check_chain_ids <- function(chain_ids, x, unique = TRUE) {
+check_chain_ids <- function(chain_ids, x, unique = TRUE, exclude = FALSE) {
   check_draws_object(x)
   if (is.null(chain_ids)) {
     return(NULL)
   }
   unique <- as_one_logical(unique)
+  exclude <- as_one_logical(exclude)
   chain_ids <- as.integer(chain_ids)
   if (unique) {
     chain_ids <- unique(chain_ids)
@@ -609,17 +626,23 @@ check_chain_ids <- function(chain_ids, x, unique = TRUE) {
     stop_no_call("Tried to subset chains up to '", max_chain, "' ",
           "but the object only has '", nchains, "' chains.")
   }
+
+  if (exclude) {
+    chain_ids <- setdiff(chain_ids(x), chain_ids)
+  }
+  
   invisible(chain_ids)
 }
 
 # check validity of draw indices
 # @param unique should the returned IDs be unique?
-check_draw_ids <- function(draw_ids, x, unique = TRUE) {
+check_draw_ids <- function(draw_ids, x, unique = TRUE, exclude = FALSE) {
   check_draws_object(x)
   if (is.null(draw_ids)) {
     return(NULL)
   }
   unique <- as_one_logical(unique)
+  exclude <- as_one_logical(exclude)
   draw_ids <- as.integer(draw_ids)
   if (unique) {
     draw_ids <- unique(draw_ids)
@@ -634,5 +657,10 @@ check_draw_ids <- function(draw_ids, x, unique = TRUE) {
     stop_no_call("Tried to subset draws up to '", max_draw, "' ",
           "but the object only has '", ndraws, "' draws.")
   }
+
+  if (exclude) {
+    draw_ids <- setdiff(draw_ids(x), draw_ids)
+  }
+  
   invisible(draw_ids)
 }
diff --git a/R/subset_draws.R b/R/subset_draws.R
index 8465f14f..7802c63f 100644
--- a/R/subset_draws.R
+++ b/R/subset_draws.R
@@ -3,19 +3,25 @@
 #' Subset [`draws`] objects by variables, iterations, chains, and draws indices.
 #'
 #' @template args-methods-x
-#' @param variable (character vector) The variables to select. All elements of
-#'   non-scalar variables can be selected at once.
+#' @param variable (character vector) The variables to select. All
+#'   elements of non-scalar variables can be selected at once.
 #' @param iteration (integer vector) The iteration indices to select.
 #' @param chain (integer vector) The chain indices to select.
-#' @param draw (integer vector) The draw indices to be select. Subsetting draw
-#'   indices will lead to an automatic merging of chains via [`merge_chains`].
+#' @param draw (integer vector) The draw indices to be
+#'   select. Subsetting draw indices will lead to an automatic merging
+#'   of chains via [`merge_chains`].
 #' @param regex (logical) Should `variable` should be treated as a
-#'   (vector of) regular expressions? Any variable in `x` matching at least one
-#'   of the regular expressions will be selected. Defaults to `FALSE`.
-#' @param unique (logical) Should duplicated selection of chains, iterations, or
-#'   draws be allowed? If `TRUE` (the default) only unique chains, iterations,
-#'   and draws are selected regardless of how often they appear in the
-#'   respective selecting arguments.
+#'   (vector of) regular expressions? Any variable in `x` matching at
+#'   least one of the regular expressions will be selected. Defaults
+#'   to `FALSE`.
+#' @param unique (logical) Should duplicated selection of chains,
+#'   iterations, or draws be allowed? If `TRUE` (the default) only
+#'   unique chains, iterations, and draws are selected regardless of
+#'   how often they appear in the respective selecting arguments.
+#' @param exclude (logical) Should the selected subset be excluded?
+#'   If `FALSE` (the default) only the selected subset will be
+#'   returned.  If `TRUE` everything but the selected subset will be
+#'   returned.
 #'
 #' @template args-methods-dots
 #' @template return-draws
@@ -46,15 +52,16 @@ subset_draws <- function(x, ...) {
 #' @export
 subset_draws.draws_matrix <- function(x, variable = NULL, iteration = NULL,
                                       chain = NULL, draw = NULL, regex = FALSE,
-                                      unique = TRUE, ...) {
+                                      unique = TRUE, exclude = FALSE, ...) {
   if (all_null(variable, iteration, chain, draw)) {
     return(x)
   }
   x <- repair_draws(x)
-  variable <- check_existing_variables(variable, x, regex = regex)
-  iteration <- check_iteration_ids(iteration, x, unique = unique)
-  chain <- check_chain_ids(chain, x, unique = unique)
-  draw <- check_draw_ids(draw, x, unique = unique)
+  variable <- check_existing_variables(variable, x, regex = regex, exclude = exclude)
+  iteration <- check_iteration_ids(iteration, x, unique = unique, exclude = exclude)
+  chain <- check_chain_ids(chain, x, unique = unique, exclude = exclude)
+  draw <- check_draw_ids(draw, x, unique = unique, exclude = exclude)
+
   x <- prepare_subsetting(x, iteration, chain, draw)
   x <- .subset_draws(x, iteration, chain, draw, variable, reserved = TRUE)
   if (!is.null(chain) || !is.null(iteration)) {
@@ -67,15 +74,17 @@ subset_draws.draws_matrix <- function(x, variable = NULL, iteration = NULL,
 #' @export
 subset_draws.draws_array <- function(x, variable = NULL, iteration = NULL,
                                      chain = NULL, draw = NULL, regex = FALSE,
-                                     unique = TRUE, ...) {
+                                     unique = TRUE, exclude = FALSE, ...) {
   if (all_null(variable, iteration, chain, draw)) {
     return(x)
   }
+
   x <- repair_draws(x)
-  variable <- check_existing_variables(variable, x, regex = regex)
-  iteration <- check_iteration_ids(iteration, x, unique = unique)
-  chain <- check_chain_ids(chain, x, unique = unique)
-  draw <- check_draw_ids(draw, x, unique = unique)
+  variable <- check_existing_variables(variable, x, regex = regex, exclude = exclude)
+  iteration <- check_iteration_ids(iteration, x, unique = unique, exclude = exclude)
+  chain <- check_chain_ids(chain, x, unique = unique, exclude = exclude)
+  draw <- check_draw_ids(draw, x, unique = unique, exclude = exclude)
+
   x <- prepare_subsetting(x, iteration, chain, draw)
   if (!is.null(draw)) {
     iteration <- draw
@@ -91,16 +100,18 @@ subset_draws.draws_array <- function(x, variable = NULL, iteration = NULL,
 #' @export
 subset_draws.draws_df <- function(x, variable = NULL, iteration = NULL,
                                   chain = NULL, draw = NULL, regex = FALSE,
-                                  unique = TRUE, ...) {
+                                  unique = TRUE, exclude = FALSE, ...) {
   if (all_null(variable, iteration, chain, draw)) {
     return(x)
   }
+
   x <- repair_draws(x)
   unique <- as_one_logical(unique)
-  variable <- check_existing_variables(variable, x, regex = regex)
-  iteration <- check_iteration_ids(iteration, x, unique = unique)
-  chain <- check_chain_ids(chain, x, unique = unique)
-  draw <- check_draw_ids(draw, x, unique = unique)
+  variable <- check_existing_variables(variable, x, regex = regex, exclude= exclude)
+  iteration <- check_iteration_ids(iteration, x, unique = unique, exclude= exclude)
+  chain <- check_chain_ids(chain, x, unique = unique, exclude= exclude)
+  draw <- check_draw_ids(draw, x, unique = unique, exclude= exclude)
+
   x <- prepare_subsetting(x, iteration, chain, draw)
   x <- .subset_draws(
     x, iteration, chain, draw, variable,
@@ -113,15 +124,17 @@ subset_draws.draws_df <- function(x, variable = NULL, iteration = NULL,
 #' @export
 subset_draws.draws_list <- function(x, variable = NULL, iteration = NULL,
                                     chain = NULL, draw = NULL, regex = FALSE,
-                                    unique = TRUE, ...) {
+                                    unique = TRUE, exclude = FALSE, ...) {
   if (all_null(variable, iteration, chain, draw)) {
     return(x)
   }
+
   x <- repair_draws(x)
-  variable <- check_existing_variables(variable, x, regex = regex)
-  iteration <- check_iteration_ids(iteration, x, unique = unique)
-  chain <- check_chain_ids(chain, x, unique = unique)
-  draw <- check_draw_ids(draw, x, unique = unique)
+  variable <- check_existing_variables(variable, x, regex = regex, exclude = exclude)
+  iteration <- check_iteration_ids(iteration, x, unique = unique, exclude = exclude)
+  chain <- check_chain_ids(chain, x, unique = unique, exclude = exclude)
+  draw <- check_draw_ids(draw, x, unique = unique, exclude = exclude)
+
   x <- prepare_subsetting(x, iteration, chain, draw)
   if (!is.null(draw)) {
     iteration <- draw
@@ -137,15 +150,17 @@ subset_draws.draws_list <- function(x, variable = NULL, iteration = NULL,
 #' @export
 subset_draws.draws_rvars <- function(x, variable = NULL, iteration = NULL,
                                      chain = NULL, draw = NULL, regex = FALSE,
-                                     unique = TRUE, ...) {
+                                     unique = TRUE, exclude = FALSE, ...) {
   if (all_null(variable, iteration, chain, draw)) {
     return(x)
   }
+
   x <- repair_draws(x)
-  variable <- check_existing_variables(variable, x, regex = regex)
-  iteration <- check_iteration_ids(iteration, x, unique = unique)
-  chain <- check_chain_ids(chain, x, unique = unique)
-  draw <- check_draw_ids(draw, x, unique = unique)
+  variable <- check_existing_variables(variable, x, regex = regex, exclude = exclude)
+  iteration <- check_iteration_ids(iteration, x, unique = unique, exclude= exclude)
+  chain <- check_chain_ids(chain, x, unique = unique, exclude= exclude)
+  draw <- check_draw_ids(draw, x, unique = unique, exclude= exclude)
+
   x <- prepare_subsetting(x, iteration, chain, draw)
   if (!is.null(draw)) {
     iteration <- draw
diff --git a/man/subset_draws.Rd b/man/subset_draws.Rd
index 26d423d4..c5698e08 100644
--- a/man/subset_draws.Rd
+++ b/man/subset_draws.Rd
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ subset_draws(x, ...)
   draw = NULL,
   regex = FALSE,
   unique = TRUE,
+  exclude = FALSE,
   ...
 )
 
@@ -32,6 +33,7 @@ subset_draws(x, ...)
   draw = NULL,
   regex = FALSE,
   unique = TRUE,
+  exclude = FALSE,
   ...
 )
 
@@ -43,6 +45,7 @@ subset_draws(x, ...)
   draw = NULL,
   regex = FALSE,
   unique = TRUE,
+  exclude = FALSE,
   ...
 )
 
@@ -54,6 +57,7 @@ subset_draws(x, ...)
   draw = NULL,
   regex = FALSE,
   unique = TRUE,
+  exclude = FALSE,
   ...
 )
 
@@ -65,6 +69,7 @@ subset_draws(x, ...)
   draw = NULL,
   regex = FALSE,
   unique = TRUE,
+  exclude = FALSE,
   ...
 )
 
@@ -78,24 +83,30 @@ is defined.}
 
 \item{...}{Arguments passed to individual methods (if applicable).}
 
-\item{variable}{(character vector) The variables to select. All elements of
-non-scalar variables can be selected at once.}
+\item{variable}{(character vector) The variables to select. All
+elements of non-scalar variables can be selected at once.}
 
 \item{iteration}{(integer vector) The iteration indices to select.}
 
 \item{chain}{(integer vector) The chain indices to select.}
 
-\item{draw}{(integer vector) The draw indices to be select. Subsetting draw
-indices will lead to an automatic merging of chains via \code{\link{merge_chains}}.}
+\item{draw}{(integer vector) The draw indices to be
+select. Subsetting draw indices will lead to an automatic merging
+of chains via \code{\link{merge_chains}}.}
 
 \item{regex}{(logical) Should \code{variable} should be treated as a
-(vector of) regular expressions? Any variable in \code{x} matching at least one
-of the regular expressions will be selected. Defaults to \code{FALSE}.}
-
-\item{unique}{(logical) Should duplicated selection of chains, iterations, or
-draws be allowed? If \code{TRUE} (the default) only unique chains, iterations,
-and draws are selected regardless of how often they appear in the
-respective selecting arguments.}
+(vector of) regular expressions? Any variable in \code{x} matching at
+least one of the regular expressions will be selected. Defaults
+to \code{FALSE}.}
+
+\item{unique}{(logical) Should duplicated selection of chains,
+iterations, or draws be allowed? If \code{TRUE} (the default) only
+unique chains, iterations, and draws are selected regardless of
+how often they appear in the respective selecting arguments.}
+
+\item{exclude}{(logical) Should the selected subset be excluded?
+If \code{FALSE} (the default) the selection will be returned.  If
+\code{TRUE} all but the selected subset will be returned.}
 }
 \value{
 A \code{draws} object of the same class as \code{x}.
diff --git a/tests/testthat/test-subset_draws.R b/tests/testthat/test-subset_draws.R
index a5170ac4..bae8bc2f 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/test-subset_draws.R
+++ b/tests/testthat/test-subset_draws.R
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 test_that("subset_draws works correctly for draws_matrix objects", {
+
   x <- as_draws_matrix(example_draws())
   x_sub <- subset_draws(x, variable = c("mu", "tau"), iteration = 5:10)
   x_sub2 <- x[c(5:10, 105:110, 205:210, 305:310), c("mu", "tau")]
@@ -12,6 +13,18 @@ test_that("subset_draws works correctly for draws_matrix objects", {
   x <- weight_draws(x, rep(1, ndraws(x)))
   x_sub <- subset_draws(x, variable = "mu")
   expect_equal(variables(x_sub, reserved = TRUE), c("mu", ".log_weight"))
+
+  x_sub <- subset_draws(x, variable = "mu", chain = c(1, 2, 3), exclude = TRUE)
+  expect_equal(setdiff(variables(x, reserved = TRUE), "mu"), variables(x_sub, reserved = TRUE))
+  expect_equal(nchains(x_sub), 1)
+
+  x_sub <- subset_draws(x, draw = c(1, 2, 3), exclude = TRUE)
+  expect_equal(ndraws(x) - 3, ndraws(x_sub))
+
+  x_sub <- subset_draws(x, iteration = c(1, 2, 3), exclude = TRUE)
+  expect_equal(ndraws(x) - 3 * nchains(x), ndraws(x_sub))
+
+
 })
 
 test_that("subset_draws works correctly for draws_array objects", {
@@ -35,6 +48,16 @@ test_that("subset_draws works correctly for draws_array objects", {
   x <- weight_draws(x, rep(1, ndraws(x)))
   x_sub <- subset_draws(x, variable = "mu")
   expect_equal(variables(x_sub, reserved = TRUE), c("mu", ".log_weight"))
+
+  x_sub <- subset_draws(x, variable = "mu", chain = c(1, 2, 3), exclude = TRUE)
+  expect_equal(setdiff(variables(x, reserved = TRUE), "mu"), variables(x_sub, reserved = TRUE))
+  expect_equal(nchains(x_sub), 1)
+
+  x_sub <- subset_draws(x, draw = c(1, 2, 3), exclude = TRUE)
+  expect_equal(ndraws(x) - 3, ndraws(x_sub))
+
+  x_sub <- subset_draws(x, iteration = c(1, 2, 3), exclude = TRUE)
+  expect_equal(ndraws(x) - 3 * nchains(x), ndraws(x_sub))
 })
 
 test_that("subset_draws works correctly for draws_df objects", {
@@ -51,6 +74,16 @@ test_that("subset_draws works correctly for draws_df objects", {
   x <- weight_draws(x, rep(1, ndraws(x)))
   x_sub <- subset_draws(x, variable = "mu")
   expect_equal(names(x_sub), c("mu", ".log_weight", ".chain", ".iteration", ".draw"))
+
+  x_sub <- subset_draws(x, variable = "mu", chain = c(1, 2, 3), exclude = TRUE)
+  expect_equal(setdiff(variables(x, reserved = TRUE), "mu"), variables(x_sub, reserved = TRUE))
+  expect_equal(nchains(x_sub), 1)
+
+  x_sub <- subset_draws(x, draw = c(1, 2, 3), exclude = TRUE)
+  expect_equal(ndraws(x) - 3, ndraws(x_sub))
+
+  x_sub <- subset_draws(x, iteration = c(1, 2, 3), exclude = TRUE)
+  expect_equal(ndraws(x) - 3 * nchains(x), ndraws(x_sub))
 })
 
 test_that("subset_draws works correctly for draws_list objects", {
@@ -73,6 +106,16 @@ test_that("subset_draws works correctly for draws_list objects", {
   x <- weight_draws(x, rep(1, ndraws(x)))
   x_sub <- subset_draws(x, variable = "mu")
   expect_equal(variables(x_sub, reserved = TRUE), c("mu", ".log_weight"))
+
+  x_sub <- subset_draws(x, variable = "mu", chain = c(1, 2, 3), exclude = TRUE)
+  expect_equal(setdiff(variables(x, reserved = TRUE), "mu"), variables(x_sub, reserved = TRUE))
+  expect_equal(nchains(x_sub), 1)
+
+  x_sub <- subset_draws(x, draw = c(1, 2, 3), exclude = TRUE)
+  expect_equal(ndraws(x) - 3, ndraws(x_sub))
+
+  x_sub <- subset_draws(x, iteration = c(1, 2, 3), exclude = TRUE)
+  expect_equal(ndraws(x) - 3 * nchains(x), ndraws(x_sub))
 })
 
 test_that("subset_draws works correctly for draws_rvars objects", {
@@ -95,6 +138,16 @@ test_that("subset_draws works correctly for draws_rvars objects", {
   x <- weight_draws(x, rep(1, ndraws(x)))
   x_sub <- subset_draws(x, variable = "mu")
   expect_equal(variables(x_sub, reserved = TRUE), c("mu", ".log_weight"))
+
+  x_sub <- subset_draws(x, variable = "mu", chain = c(1, 2, 3), exclude = TRUE)
+  expect_equal(setdiff(variables(x, reserved = TRUE), "mu"), variables(x_sub, reserved = TRUE))
+  expect_equal(nchains(x_sub), 1)
+
+  x_sub <- subset_draws(x, draw = c(1, 2, 3), exclude = TRUE)
+  expect_equal(ndraws(x) - 3, ndraws(x_sub))
+
+  x_sub <- subset_draws(x, iteration = c(1, 2, 3), exclude = TRUE)
+  expect_equal(ndraws(x) - 3 * nchains(x), ndraws(x_sub))
 })
 
 test_that("subset_draws works correctly for rvar objects", {
@@ -111,6 +164,17 @@ test_that("subset_draws works correctly for rvar objects", {
     "Merging chains in order to subset via 'draw'"
   )
   expect_equal(niterations(x_sub), 3)
+
+  x_sub <- subset_draws(x, iteration = c(1, 2), chain = c(1, 2, 3), exclude = TRUE)
+  expect_equal(niterations(x_sub), niterations(x) - 2)
+  expect_equal(nchains(x_sub), 1)
+
+  x_sub <- subset_draws(x, draw = c(1, 2, 3), exclude = TRUE)
+  expect_equal(ndraws(x) - 3, ndraws(x_sub))
+
+  x_sub <- subset_draws(x, iteration = c(1, 2, 3), exclude = TRUE)
+  expect_equal(ndraws(x) - 3 * nchains(x), ndraws(x_sub))
+
 })
 
 test_that("variables can be subsetted via regular expressions", {