downplay

verb

down·play ˈdau̇n-ˌplā

downplayed; downplaying; downplays

Synonyms of downplay next

transitive verb

: play down, de-emphasize

Examples of downplay in a Sentence

Athletes often downplay their injuries. he self-deprecatingly downplays his own contributions to the festival's success

Recent Examples on the Web The award was named in Jackson’s honor in 1991, but the network has seemed to downplay the association somewhat since the 2019 documentary Leaving Neverland raised disturbing allegations about the star’s behavior. —

Paul Grein, Billboard, 15 Aug. 2024 The operation could present a real problem for Putin according to Herbst, who thinks the Russian leader may be downplaying the severity of the incursion by declaring a counterterrorism operation. —

Shawn J. Sullivan, USA TODAY, 12 Aug. 2024 In a research note June 29, HSBC flagged concerns that rising silver prices are putting a dent in margins, but downplayed that concern. —

Miles Socha, WWD, 12 Aug. 2024 While Tuareg rebels and JNIM were quick to celebrate their success, Mali and Wagner sought to downplay their losses. —

Christopher Michael Faulkner, The Conversation, 9 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for downplay

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'downplay.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.