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
Julie Bogart, homeschooling advocate and author of The Brave Learner, says the method de-emphasizes the importance of curriculum.
—
Taylor Grothe, Parents, 9 July 2025
Nonetheless, teachers can face pressures to downplay or de-emphasize evolution, says Miller.
—Nell Greenfieldboyce, NPR, 8 July 2025
Electric vehicles drew attention but were slighty de-emphasized at this year's Milwaukee Auto Show.
—Ricardo Torres, jsonline.com, 3 July 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
See All Example Sentences for de-emphasize
Taylor Grothe, Parents, 9 July 2025
Nonetheless, teachers can face pressures to downplay or de-emphasize evolution, says Miller.
—Nell Greenfieldboyce, NPR, 8 July 2025
Electric vehicles drew attention but were slighty de-emphasized at this year's Milwaukee Auto Show.
—Ricardo Torres, jsonline.com, 3 July 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
See All Example Sentences for de-emphasize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for de-emphasize
Verb
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In other words, while Europe continues to send arms supplies to the Ukrainian army, Europe is also careful not to go too far in order to minimize the prospects of a clash with Russia.—
Daniel R. DePetris,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Sep. 2025
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Another way to improve pollinator activity is to minimize pesticide use near your trees and keep your garden and lawn as organic as possible.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The president also appeared to downplay the Bureau of Labor Statistics’s jobs report that will be announced on Friday.—
Mabinty Quarshie,
The Washington Examiner,
5 Sep. 2025
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His concerns were downplayed a few months ago by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.—
Diane Brady,
Fortune,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The actor denied the allegations, and the case was later dismissed, per The Hollywood Reporter.—
Emily Blackwood,
PEOPLE,
5 Sep. 2025
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Those who dismissed intersectionality saw such policies as little more than allowing the disadvantaged to commit crimes without consequences to make up for past inequities, afflicting crime victims from the same disadvantaged communities.—
John Scott Lewinski,
The Washington Examiner,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Nothing grates quite like those slick pharmaceutical ads blaring across the TV, promising quick fixes while soft-pedaling potential side effects.—
Alex Ward,
Boston Herald,
15 Aug. 2025
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This soft-pedalling impulse is evident in the revival’s treatment of Hank’s next-door neighbor Dale, a conspiracy nut who blames the U.N., the U.S. military, and the Cuban government for life’s inconveniences.—
Inkoo Kang,
New Yorker,
8 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“De-emphasize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/de-emphasize. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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