downplay

verb

down·​play ˈdau̇n-ˌplā 

downplayed; downplaying; downplays

transitive verb

: play down, de-emphasize

Synonyms of downplay

• minimize
• dismiss
• soft-pedal

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

Most of the time after practice, players involved downplay the incident or don’t give it much credence. — Joe Buscaglia, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026

Harbaugh, who said a few days ago that the Giants don’t want penalties, tried to downplay the sloppiness of the practice due to the excitement of being in pads. — Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 3 Aug. 2026

But the Dodgers have downplayed the severity of that ailment and are under the impression that throwing doesn’t hurt it. — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 31 July 2026

Journalists fought back Struggling to compete, newspapers in the 1960s and ’70s could have easily downplayed Agnew’s criticisms of a rival medium. — Heather Hendershot, The Conversation, 31 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1948, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for downplay

• airway
• allay
• archway
• array
• ashtray
• assez
• astray
• aue
• away
• ballet
• belay
• beltway