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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Recent Examples of downplay
Cool defended Nanos' handling of the sheriff's department budget, argued that the sheriff should not have to answer all of the board's questions in a public setting, and downplayed concerns of retaliation against Cross and Lappin.
—
Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 22 Apr. 2026
There’s a sense that not enough alarm was raised by the media during the 2024 election, or that, for example, Project 2025 was downplayed.
—Michael Schneider, Variety, 22 Apr. 2026
But some experts are also downplaying the effect these robots could have on the war.
—Justin Klawans, TheWeek, 22 Apr. 2026
Suzanne O’Donnell, an accomplished regional theater actor with a lot of Shakespeare on her resume, plays Penrose as both a warm mothering figure to these two occasionally babyish men but does not downplay the character’s pragmatic side.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 21 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for downplay
Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 22 Apr. 2026
There’s a sense that not enough alarm was raised by the media during the 2024 election, or that, for example, Project 2025 was downplayed.
—Michael Schneider, Variety, 22 Apr. 2026
But some experts are also downplaying the effect these robots could have on the war.
—Justin Klawans, TheWeek, 22 Apr. 2026
Suzanne O’Donnell, an accomplished regional theater actor with a lot of Shakespeare on her resume, plays Penrose as both a warm mothering figure to these two occasionally babyish men but does not downplay the character’s pragmatic side.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 21 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for downplay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for downplay
Verb
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Additionally, with machines at an elevated height, transferring clothes becomes much easier, minimizing the need to bend over frequently.—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
26 Apr. 2026
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MacRumors thinks this could end up reducing the thickness of the iPhone’s display stack while improving brightness and minimizing power use.—
Will McCurdy,
PC Magazine,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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As part of her agreement to plead guilty, prosecutors will dismiss four felony counts of perjury, procurement or false or forged document to be filed, and two counts of not being entitled to vote in an election.—
Andrew J. Campa,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Apr. 2026
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Though often dismissed as bubblegum soul, the early Jackson 5 hits were intricate and infectious.—
Andy Greene,
Rolling Stone,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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This loud-and-proud version of Sonny certainly feels progressive, but in a different way it soft-pedals Sonny’s complications.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
31 Mar. 2026
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Whatever your preconceived notions about Feldman are, Hume’s film will expand and challenge them; the movie’s greatness lies in its ability to capture all of Feldman’s contradictions and self-destructiveness, empathizing with him without soft-pedaling his sins.—
Jim Hemphill,
IndieWire,
23 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Downplay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/downplay. Accessed 30 Apr. 2026.
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