as in to minimize
to reduce in apparent importance
he self-deprecatingly downplays his own contributions to the festival's success
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of downplay
With the Chiefs set to take on the Jaguars, Patrick Mahomes addressed the controversy, downplaying the idea that the Jaguars are doing anything questionable.
—
James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Oct. 2025
Separately, on why Democratic leaders who have have not yet endorsed him, such as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Mamdani downplayed the importance of endorsements more broadly.
—Oren Oppenheim, ABC News, 1 Oct. 2025
Ocasio-Cortez downplayed her future ambitions to run for Senate during an interview Tuesday with MSNBC’s Chris Hayes.
—Alexander Bolton, The Hill, 1 Oct. 2025
Even as Vancouver publicly downplays its conviction about Cootes, internally, the conversation around him is beginning to shift materially.
—Thomas Drance, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for downplay
James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Oct. 2025
Separately, on why Democratic leaders who have have not yet endorsed him, such as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Mamdani downplayed the importance of endorsements more broadly.
—Oren Oppenheim, ABC News, 1 Oct. 2025
Ocasio-Cortez downplayed her future ambitions to run for Senate during an interview Tuesday with MSNBC’s Chris Hayes.
—Alexander Bolton, The Hill, 1 Oct. 2025
Even as Vancouver publicly downplays its conviction about Cootes, internally, the conversation around him is beginning to shift materially.
—Thomas Drance, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for downplay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for downplay
Verb
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Amen Thompson wasn’t going to be counted on as Houston’s primary ballhandler until Fred VanVleet’s injury, but the Rockets should be leaning on Thompson as a point guard going forward, especially to minimize Thompson’s lack of shooting.—
Law Murray,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
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Here’s a handsome Japanese cutting board that’s designed to minimize stress on your hand and lengthen the life of your chef’s knives.—
Kristi Kellogg,
Architectural Digest,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Seven of those charged previously pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor and prosecutors moved to dismiss their felony counts.—
Quinlan Bentley,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
2 Oct. 2025
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Olguin dismissed the case in 2022 after finding Elden’s claims were time-barred without addressing the substance of his allegations.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Translation: compliance burdens are rising, even if the U.S. is soft-pedaling near-term enforcement.—
Pam Kaur,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
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Nothing grates quite like those slick pharmaceutical ads blaring across the TV, promising quick fixes while soft-pedaling potential side effects.—
Alex Ward,
Boston Herald,
15 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Downplay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/downplay. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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