as in to minimize
to reduce in apparent importance
you're at a point in your career where you can de-emphasize your academic record and emphasize your work experience
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Recent Examples of de-emphasize
Electric vehicles drew attention but were slighty de-emphasized at this year's Milwaukee Auto Show.
—
Ricardo Torres, jsonline.com, 3 July 2025
Hill is shifting Nike back to sports, a priority that was de-emphasized under its former CEO.
—Jordan Valinsky, CNN Money, 27 June 2025
Cursive has been out of vogue for 15 years, after schools began adopting a Common Core curriculum, which de-emphasized the writing style.
—Chris Morris, Fortune, 26 June 2025
Some pitchers will de-emphasize their breaking pitches at Coors Field because of the effects of the altitude.
—Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 26 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for de-emphasize
Ricardo Torres, jsonline.com, 3 July 2025
Hill is shifting Nike back to sports, a priority that was de-emphasized under its former CEO.
—Jordan Valinsky, CNN Money, 27 June 2025
Cursive has been out of vogue for 15 years, after schools began adopting a Common Core curriculum, which de-emphasized the writing style.
—Chris Morris, Fortune, 26 June 2025
Some pitchers will de-emphasize their breaking pitches at Coors Field because of the effects of the altitude.
—Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 26 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for de-emphasize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for de-emphasize
Verb
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The smell will fade overtime as the blinds begin to dry, but diluting vinegar with water helps minimize the potency of the scent.—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
19 July 2025
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Here are recommendations for maintaining safety during a thunderstorm: To minimize risk of being struck by lightning, when going outside, have a plan to get to a safer place.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
19 July 2025
Verb
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The senior State Department official downplayed the study.—
Chris Boccia,
ABC News,
13 July 2025
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The man who has turned Paris Saint-Germain from an excellent side to the best club soccer team on the planet has even downplayed his role with the FIFA Club World Cup final against Chelsea at MetLife Stadium looming on Sunday at 3 p.m. ET.—
Michael Lewis,
Forbes.com,
12 July 2025
Verb
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They have since been dismissed by the local solicitor general's office, WSB-TV reported.—
Eduardo Cuevas,
USA Today,
12 July 2025
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With the reciprocal tariffs, Trump is dismissing the rules governing world trade.—
Aamer Madhani,
Los Angeles Times,
12 July 2025
Verb
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In 2024, Paul Weiss didn’t soft-pedal its liberal leanings.—
Ruth Marcus,
New Yorker,
27 Mar. 2025
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Goldberg Tuesday scoffed at the denials and efforts to soft-pedal the extent and potential danger of the breach.—
Dave Goldiner,
New York Daily News,
25 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“De-emphasize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/de-emphasize. Accessed 24 Jul. 2025.
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