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
In recent months, Max has also de-emphasized its family and kids programming.
—
Jordan Valinsky, CNN Money, 9 July 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for de-emphasize
Jordan Valinsky, CNN Money, 9 July 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for de-emphasize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for de-emphasize
Verb
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Officials repeatedly minimized fire risks and touted the benefits of letting the fire burn, according to The Republic's findings.—
Rey Covarrubias Jr,
USA Today,
9 Sep. 2025
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Context switching is minimized.—
Paul Kovalenko,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The Chiefs have since downplayed any lingering fallout from the tense TV moment.—
Pete Sweeney,
Kansas City Star,
12 Sep. 2025
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Indian leaders have also downplayed the area’s earthquake risk while citing tsunamis as a reason why the Great Nicobarese indigenous people living in government camps cannot return to their ancestral villages.—
M. Rajshekhar,
Time,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Despite lacking any legal education or experience, Routh dismissed his lawyers earlier this year and intends to defend himself at trial.—
Peter Charalambous,
ABC News,
11 Sep. 2025
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When retail loses money, it’s often dismissed as inexperience.—
Anmol Verma,
Forbes.com,
11 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 15 Sep. 2025.
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