as in to minimize
to reduce in apparent importance
he self-deprecatingly downplays his own contributions to the festival's success
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of downplay
Allegedly, Buckingham Palace leaned on the press to downplay the severity of the king’s illness last year, which paints a picture of a monarch who’s much sicker than people want to believe.
—
Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 3 June 2026
Nilsson, an incorrigible Midwesterner, had a history of downplaying her depth.
—Jeremy Lybarger, Artforum, 2 June 2026
In other words, this is not the time to downplay your expertise or overextend yourself to prove your worth.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 2 June 2026
While head coach Sean McVay tried to downplay those kinds of expectations, there’s no question the Rams only made this trade because of their intention to win a Super Bowl this season in their Inglewood home at SoFi Stadium.
—Adam Grosbard, Oc Register, 2 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for downplay
Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 3 June 2026
Nilsson, an incorrigible Midwesterner, had a history of downplaying her depth.
—Jeremy Lybarger, Artforum, 2 June 2026
In other words, this is not the time to downplay your expertise or overextend yourself to prove your worth.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 2 June 2026
While head coach Sean McVay tried to downplay those kinds of expectations, there’s no question the Rams only made this trade because of their intention to win a Super Bowl this season in their Inglewood home at SoFi Stadium.
—Adam Grosbard, Oc Register, 2 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for downplay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for downplay
Verb
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Protect your mower by minimizing grass buildup with these 4 tips.—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
6 June 2026
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His medical team also worked carefully to minimize the emotional challenges that could accompany the process.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
PEOPLE,
6 June 2026
Verb
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The lawsuit was eventually dismissed.—
Jacqui Palumbo,
CNN Money,
4 June 2026
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The ruling came after similar cases in Michigan and Georgia were dismissed by the courts and a special prosecutor dropped a federal case in late 2024 that charged Trump with conspiring to overturn the 2020 election.—
Jacques Billeaud,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2026
Verb
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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
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Old school with a gift for storytelling, Simon was not one to soft-pedal his mentees.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
9 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Downplay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/downplay. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
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