as in minimized
to reduce in apparent importance
he self-deprecatingly downplays his own contributions to the festival's success
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Recent Examples of downplayed
However, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence downplayed the shift in the latest assessment, emphasizing at the time that the overall conclusions had not changed.
—
Nora Gamez Torres, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2025
Many Democrats, meanwhile, have downplayed the threat of mass firings, arguing that the White House has already been reducing the size of the federal workforce.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2025
Though Sirianni and Patullo both downplayed Brown’s antics, the 28-year-old wideout admitted to tweeting out of frustration following his worst performance of the season.
—Michael Gallagher, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Oct. 2025
Eagles coach Nick Sirianni downplayed those concerns.
—Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 2 Oct. 2025
Separately, on why Democratic leaders who have have not yet endorsed him, such as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Mamdani downplayed the importance of endorsements more broadly.
—Oren Oppenheim, ABC News, 1 Oct. 2025
Ocasio-Cortez downplayed her future ambitions to run for Senate during an interview Tuesday with MSNBC’s Chris Hayes.
—Alexander Bolton, The Hill, 1 Oct. 2025
Despite their struggles, the Twins avoided high-profile blowups aside from one involving Jax and Baldelli on July 30, one the reliever has since downplayed multiple times.
—Dan Hayes, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
Vrabel downplayed the severity of the injury.
—Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 26 Sep. 2025
Nora Gamez Torres, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2025
Many Democrats, meanwhile, have downplayed the threat of mass firings, arguing that the White House has already been reducing the size of the federal workforce.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2025
Though Sirianni and Patullo both downplayed Brown’s antics, the 28-year-old wideout admitted to tweeting out of frustration following his worst performance of the season.
—Michael Gallagher, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Oct. 2025
Eagles coach Nick Sirianni downplayed those concerns.
—Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 2 Oct. 2025
Separately, on why Democratic leaders who have have not yet endorsed him, such as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Mamdani downplayed the importance of endorsements more broadly.
—Oren Oppenheim, ABC News, 1 Oct. 2025
Ocasio-Cortez downplayed her future ambitions to run for Senate during an interview Tuesday with MSNBC’s Chris Hayes.
—Alexander Bolton, The Hill, 1 Oct. 2025
Despite their struggles, the Twins avoided high-profile blowups aside from one involving Jax and Baldelli on July 30, one the reliever has since downplayed multiple times.
—Dan Hayes, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
Vrabel downplayed the severity of the injury.
—Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 26 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for downplayed
Verb
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Gonzalez, the former National Security Council official, said senior policymakers thought that embassy staff were showing favoritism to Bukele, sending reports that minimized the growing crisis of democracy in El Salvador.—
T. Christian Miller,
ProPublica,
30 Sep. 2025
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Could the Giants have minimized those wayward stretches under the leadership of a different kind of manager, especially the 0-6 homestand against the New York Mets and Pittsburgh Pirates that preceded their selling posture at the July 31 trade deadline?—
Andrew Baggarly,
New York Times,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Arkansas coach Sam Pittman was fired Sunday, and defensive coordinator Travis Williams, co-defensive coordinator Marcus Woodson and defensive line coach Deke Adams were dismissed Monday.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
5 Oct. 2025
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Pushed to extremes While footage and photographs of starving Palestinians in Gaza have horrified audiences abroad, inside Israel they have been dismissed by many as manipulated or untrue.—
Zeena Saifi,
CNN Money,
5 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Downplayed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/downplayed. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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