soft-pedal

soft–ped·al

verb \ˈsȯf(t)-ˈpe-d^əl\

Definition of SOFT-PEDAL

transitive verb

1

: play down, de-emphasize <soft–pedal the issue>

2

: to use the soft pedal in playing

First Known Use of SOFT-PEDAL

1925

Related to SOFT-PEDAL

Synonyms: de-emphasize, downplay, play down

Related Words: underplay, understate; bad-mouth, belittle, cry down, decry, denigrate, deprecate, depreciate, derogate, dismiss, disparage, kiss off, minimize, poor-mouth, put down, run down, talk down, trash, trash-talk

Near Antonyms: exaggerate, overdo, overdraw, overstate; elaborate, embellish, embroider, magnify, pad, stretch; fudge, hedge; melodramatize, overemphasize, overplay, sensationalize

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Rhymes with SOFT-PEDAL

Air Medal