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
Centralized communications systems are common among local, state and federal law enforcement agencies and Lucas downplayed the agreement when informed about it.
—
Kansas City Star, 23 Jan. 2026
LeBron James’ agent, Rich Paul, is downplaying the bombshell report suggesting Los Angeles Lakers Governor Jeanie Buss has grown tired of his client.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 22 Jan. 2026
The point of this material is not to downplay the events that day in Kenmure Street, nor the ongoing activism that persists in the city as UK governmental policies towards immigrants lean further right.
—Josh Slater-Williams, IndieWire, 22 Jan. 2026
Embracing the chatbot approach represents a strategic shift for Apple, which has long downplayed the conversational AI tools popularized by OpenAI, Google and Microsoft Corp.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 22 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for downplay
Kansas City Star, 23 Jan. 2026
LeBron James’ agent, Rich Paul, is downplaying the bombshell report suggesting Los Angeles Lakers Governor Jeanie Buss has grown tired of his client.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 22 Jan. 2026
The point of this material is not to downplay the events that day in Kenmure Street, nor the ongoing activism that persists in the city as UK governmental policies towards immigrants lean further right.
—Josh Slater-Williams, IndieWire, 22 Jan. 2026
Embracing the chatbot approach represents a strategic shift for Apple, which has long downplayed the conversational AI tools popularized by OpenAI, Google and Microsoft Corp.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 22 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for downplay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for downplay
Verb
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Cruz and other Republicans argued the decision minimized the gravity of an attack on the judiciary and could encourage future political violence.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
8 Jan. 2026
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Once stationary, deactivate all lights except the hazard flashers, engage the emergency brake, and release the brake pedal to ensure your tail lights remain unlit, minimizing the chance of other drivers colliding with your stationary vehicle.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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However, a White House official dismissed speculation.—
Jeff Cox,
CNBC,
30 Jan. 2026
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Continue reading … LEGAL LOOPHOLE – Luigi Mangione returns to court as judge weighs defense motion to dismiss death penalty charge.—
,
FOXNews.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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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
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In fact, several of the investigators believed the shooting was intentional, and that the Biden administration had actually soft-pedaled the investigation’s findings to appease Israel.—
Scott Griffen,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Downplay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/downplay. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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