underplay
verb
un·der·play
ˌən-dər-ˈplā 
underplayed; underplaying; underplays
: to play a role with subdued force
1
: to act or present (a role, a scene, etc.) with restraint : play down
2
: to play a card lower than (a held high card)
Examples of underplay in a Sentence
Don't underplay the importance of exercise.
I thought she underplayed her character.
Recent Examples on the Web
Compared to our lab results, most of these certificates severely underplayed the amount of delta-9 THC in the product.
—
Gina Lee Castro, jsonline.com, 19 Feb. 2026
Wilson was actually underplaying it.
—Mark Lazerus, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2026
Compared with other Rocco Forte Hotels, such as the Hotel de la Ville in Rome and Villa Igiea in Palermo, the beige lobby underplays the brand’s usual confidence.
—Laura Itzkowitz, AFAR Media, 30 Jan. 2026
Japan’s Moment To Continue A moment is probably underplaying it a little.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 30 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for underplay
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Gina Lee Castro, jsonline.com, 19 Feb. 2026
Wilson was actually underplaying it.
—Mark Lazerus, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2026
Compared with other Rocco Forte Hotels, such as the Hotel de la Ville in Rome and Villa Igiea in Palermo, the beige lobby underplays the brand’s usual confidence.
—Laura Itzkowitz, AFAR Media, 30 Jan. 2026
Japan’s Moment To Continue A moment is probably underplaying it a little.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 30 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for underplay
Cite this Entry
“Underplay.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/underplay. Accessed 25 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
underplay
verb
un·der·play
ˌən-dər-ˈplā
: to handle carefully
especially
: to play a role without much force
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