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
Advertisement New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, himself a long-suffering Knicks fan who attended a playoff game on May 21, has played down the chances of Gotham City-style meltdown.
—
Rebecca Schneid, Time, 27 May 2026
But Rubio played down the issue.
—Lorne Cook, Chicago Tribune, 22 May 2026
But Adcock initially played down expectations by noting that the Figure team was aiming for the robots to work for eight hours straight, whereas a previous Figure demo had lasted just one hour.
—Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 20 May 2026
Maresca played down those reports at the time.
—ABC News, 19 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for play down
Rebecca Schneid, Time, 27 May 2026
But Rubio played down the issue.
—Lorne Cook, Chicago Tribune, 22 May 2026
But Adcock initially played down expectations by noting that the Figure team was aiming for the robots to work for eight hours straight, whereas a previous Figure demo had lasted just one hour.
—Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 20 May 2026
Maresca played down those reports at the time.
—ABC News, 19 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for play down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for play down
Verb
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The judge also dismissed a criminal charge related to possession of a large capacity ammunition magazine, according to Reuters and ABC News.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
19 June 2026
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On Wednesday, federal prosecutors filed a motion to dismiss all charges in the case, citing new video evidence.—
Todd Feurer,
CBS News,
19 June 2026
Verb
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This can minimize cooling efficiency by making the unit work harder to bypass the clog, cause water damage from an overflowing drain pan, and even trigger respiratory issues from mold and mildew growth.—
Quincy Bulin,
Southern Living,
21 June 2026
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The Environment Monwana was built with the vision of being a leading eco-conscious lodge, with integrated renewable energy sources, highly efficient heating and cooling systems, and smart technology that would minimize its environmental footprint.—
Sarah Kingdom,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2026
Verb
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Scotland's Ben Gannon-Doak was trying to run down a long pass when Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou ran out to grab the ball, and both met in a crunching collision that left both players down for a minute.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
20 June 2026
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For the first time on June 19, the community got to use the playground, tour the gardens, and run down the sledding hill.—
Kinsey Crowley,
USA Today,
19 June 2026
Verb
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This is not to downplay the weight of cultural coherence or pretend that all differences are equally productive.—
Tracy Lawrence,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
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While the archival records are managed by the National Archives and Records Administration, the museum exhibits are funded by private donors, who may prefer to highlight positive moments and downplay controversies.—
Adam Harrington,
CBS News,
18 June 2026
Verb
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The movie goes from this weird, seedy love motel to the industrial backwaters, and these long walks and talks down empty streets.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
1 June 2026
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The contractors talked down to me.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 May 2026
Verb
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Questlove is too much of a humanist to soft-pedal’s Maurice White’s contradictions.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
4 June 2026
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Analysts fault Harris and party leaders for soft-pedaling Donald Trump’s felony convictions and other vulnerabilities, arguing Democrats’ rational, low-negative messaging couldn’t compete in an election defined by rage and relentless attack ads.—
Steve Peoples,
Los Angeles Times,
21 May 2026
Verb
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When plants are set too close together, air circulation is diminished, which encourages a more humid plant canopy that favors disease.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
16 June 2026
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When family dinners are interrupted by smartphone dings or kids glued to their tablets, Sada Garibay and other experts noted, some of the benefits of the family dinner can be diminished.—
Elise Haulund,
CNN Money,
16 June 2026
Verb
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In today’s food environment, addiction to UPFs should not be written off as a lack of personal willpower, said Forman, who researches ultraprocessed food addiction.—
Sandee LaMotte,
CNN Money,
17 June 2026
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The city and state put up most of the $56 million to build it in 2001, and are eager not to write off that expense or the cost of subsequent renovations.—
Don Stacom,
Hartford Courant,
17 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Play down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/play%20down. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.
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