1
as in to dismiss
to express scornfully one's low opinion of
out of sheer envy, she would always play down her sister's accomplishments
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to minimize
to reduce in apparent importance
if you play down your part in the project, you won't get the credit you deserve
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of play down
The two guards closed the fourth quarter in a close win over the Sky and star Angel Reese with each making dazzling plays down the stretch.
—
Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 7 Sep. 2025
There’s usually a physical requirement, as well as severely playing down the high-wattage glamor that got you on red carpets in the first place.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 6 Sep. 2025
The Chiefs know something about playing down a man or two at the position.
—Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 31 Aug. 2025
That would seem to bode well for a team that has rarely played down to its competition this season.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for play down
Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 7 Sep. 2025
There’s usually a physical requirement, as well as severely playing down the high-wattage glamor that got you on red carpets in the first place.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 6 Sep. 2025
The Chiefs know something about playing down a man or two at the position.
—Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 31 Aug. 2025
That would seem to bode well for a team that has rarely played down to its competition this season.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for play down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for play down
Verb
-
Once the contestants are dismissed from the runway, the judges get more into it.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
26 Sep. 2025
-
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
-
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
-
At the time, Lee minimizes the bombshell by way of embellishment.—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Those cheaper inventories will be eventually run down, however.—
Tami Luhby,
CNN Money,
26 Sep. 2025
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As for her footwear, Taylor went with dramatic platforms in a shade of military green, featuring silver mary jane-style buckles and laces running down the front.—
Julia Teti,
Footwear News,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
That’s been the company line this week, Kelce following Reid, offensive coordinator Matt Nagy, quarterback Patrick Mahomes and defensive tackle Chris Jones in downplaying the incident as a sign of a player’s passion and a coach’s competitive spirt.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
26 Sep. 2025
-
Vrabel downplayed the severity of the injury.—
Doug Kyed,
Boston Herald,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Perhaps the fact she was talked down by others reflects how weak and rushed her candidacy turned out to be.—
Kate Plummer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Sep. 2025
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Challenge them, don’t talk down to them.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
17 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
Verb
-
Zeldin’s cuts have diminished the EPA’s staffing levels, even before Congress has had a chance to weigh in, affecting the environment, public health and government transparency.—
Chris Sellers,
The Conversation,
29 Sep. 2025
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Though the region’s trade reliance on Washington has rapidly diminished as China has become its biggest market, several nations still rely on the US for a large share of their exports, the loss of which would put millions of livelihoods at risk.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Upon its release, Andrew Haigh’s masterpiece was unfairly written off by the gay community — either for being too slow or for being too white-centric.—
James Factora,
Them.,
26 Sep. 2025
-
They are just written off largely.—
David Remnick,
New Yorker,
26 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Play down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/play%20down. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.
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