as in minimizing
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-emphasizing
At the very least, players and parents feel the university is de-emphasizing its support for lacrosse.
—
Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 27 May 2026
However, Sempra is in the process of de-emphasizing its LNG investments.
—Rob Nikolewski, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2026
Democratic leadership, Young said, has tended to scale up the division’s work; Republicans have often scaled it down, de-emphasizing voting rights and emphasizing religious-liberty cases.
—Quinta Jurecic, The Atlantic, 13 Apr. 2026
Old-line liberals have blasted the democratic socialist for de-emphasizing a police presence in favor of volunteers and contract workers armed with little more than overdose kits, notepads and phone numbers.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 22 Jan. 2026
The Giants also appear to be de-emphasizing Dart as a runner to keep him healthy, which could lead to him getting a higher volume of passing attempts in Week 15.
—Jacob Camenker, USA Today, 14 Dec. 2025
Atmos Rewards functions as a third front door to Alaska/Hawaiian, intentionally de-emphasizing airline branding to enable expansion across the broader travel ribbon.
—Jeff Fromm, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Critics argue that the Dalai Lama’s middle way, which prioritizes dialogue and reconciliation while de-emphasizing mass mobilization, has kept the movement from reaching its full potential and leveraging its explosive strength in the struggle against Beijing.
—Tenzin Dorjee, Foreign Affairs, 1 Sep. 2025
Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 27 May 2026
However, Sempra is in the process of de-emphasizing its LNG investments.
—Rob Nikolewski, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2026
Democratic leadership, Young said, has tended to scale up the division’s work; Republicans have often scaled it down, de-emphasizing voting rights and emphasizing religious-liberty cases.
—Quinta Jurecic, The Atlantic, 13 Apr. 2026
Old-line liberals have blasted the democratic socialist for de-emphasizing a police presence in favor of volunteers and contract workers armed with little more than overdose kits, notepads and phone numbers.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 22 Jan. 2026
The Giants also appear to be de-emphasizing Dart as a runner to keep him healthy, which could lead to him getting a higher volume of passing attempts in Week 15.
—Jacob Camenker, USA Today, 14 Dec. 2025
Atmos Rewards functions as a third front door to Alaska/Hawaiian, intentionally de-emphasizing airline branding to enable expansion across the broader travel ribbon.
—Jeff Fromm, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Critics argue that the Dalai Lama’s middle way, which prioritizes dialogue and reconciliation while de-emphasizing mass mobilization, has kept the movement from reaching its full potential and leveraging its explosive strength in the struggle against Beijing.
—Tenzin Dorjee, Foreign Affairs, 1 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for de-emphasizing
Verb
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Three-dimensional tracking of meteors is a game changer, allowing scientists to pinpoint landing sites and retrieve meteorites rapidly after impact, minimizing contamination from our terrestrial environment.—
Phil Plait,
Scientific American,
12 June 2026
-
Each head has its own wiper and pad for the nozzle to sit on, minimizing oozing between swaps.—
Michael Lydick,
PC Magazine,
10 June 2026
Verb
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But critics have accused them of downplaying the risks.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
12 June 2026
-
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney hinted Wednesday that the opening could be delayed while downplaying any concerns.—
Joey Cappelletti,
Los Angeles Times,
11 June 2026
Verb
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As the media fixates on the digital natives known as Gen Z and Gen Alpha — often dismissing them as antisocial and entitled members of society — Saturday’s celebration showed that younger generations might actually have it all under control.—
Andrea Flores,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2026
-
Democrats criticized Republicans for dismissing attempts at meaningful reform.—
Ximena Bustillo,
NPR,
9 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“De-emphasizing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/de-emphasizing. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
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