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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Recent Examples of downplay
Interestingly, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones downplayed the revenge nature of the upcoming game and instead wished Parsons well.
—
James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 2025
Never one to downplay the impact of Black music on the culture at large, Rhone has promoted artists of color throughout her career, emphasizing the importance of artist development and talent curation in the major label system.
—David Browne, Rolling Stone, 22 Sep. 2025
The film’s overall low-key tenor downplays both moral judgment and conspicuous style, though neither are entirely lacking.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 22 Sep. 2025
Although his role is often downplayed, an African man known as Onesimus introduced his enslaver Cotton Mather to inoculation.
—Stacie Kershner, The Conversation, 22 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for downplay
James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 2025
Never one to downplay the impact of Black music on the culture at large, Rhone has promoted artists of color throughout her career, emphasizing the importance of artist development and talent curation in the major label system.
—David Browne, Rolling Stone, 22 Sep. 2025
The film’s overall low-key tenor downplays both moral judgment and conspicuous style, though neither are entirely lacking.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 22 Sep. 2025
Although his role is often downplayed, an African man known as Onesimus introduced his enslaver Cotton Mather to inoculation.
—Stacie Kershner, The Conversation, 22 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for downplay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for downplay
Verb
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Your advisor may also recommend tax strategies, based on your financial goals, to help minimize your yearly and lifetime tax liability.—
Kate Dore, CFP®, EA,Kelli Grant, CFP®,
CNBC,
1 Oct. 2025
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At the time, Lee minimizes the bombshell by way of embellishment.—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Once the contestants are dismissed from the runway, the judges get more into it.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
26 Sep. 2025
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Defense attorneys for the man accused of killing his Miami Hurricanes football star teammate in 2006 want prosecutors sanctioned — or the murder case dismissed — after a key witness, who state prosecutors believed was dead, was found alive by an ESPN reporter.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
25 Sep. 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 2 Oct. 2025.
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