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
Messi downplayed tying the record in a postgame interview.
—
Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 17 June 2026
The vice president and other officials have downplayed evidence of collateral damage in their crackdown on fraudulent hospices.
—Isaac Arnsdorf, Washington Post, 15 June 2026
Uruguay's preparation for the opener was disrupted by travel delays, though Bielsa downplayed concerns about the impact on the team.
—Sergio Candido, CBS News, 15 June 2026
Jackson likewise downplayed Kemp’s last-minute nod for Jones.
—ABC News, 15 June 2026
The president’s doctors have downplayed concerns about his health as minor medical problems.
—Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 15 June 2026
Pulisic downplayed the discomfort.
—Jacob Lev, CNN Money, 13 June 2026
Manager Dave Roberts downplayed the injury, saying the move was precautionary because the Dodgers did not want to risk Ohtani being injured further.
—John Perrotto, Chicago Tribune, 12 June 2026
But in a video posted June 8 on Musk's social media platform X – acquired in 2022 when it was known as Twitter – the tech mogul downplayed concerns that the AI satellite venture would lead to further orbital overcrowding.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 12 June 2026
Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 17 June 2026
The vice president and other officials have downplayed evidence of collateral damage in their crackdown on fraudulent hospices.
—Isaac Arnsdorf, Washington Post, 15 June 2026
Uruguay's preparation for the opener was disrupted by travel delays, though Bielsa downplayed concerns about the impact on the team.
—Sergio Candido, CBS News, 15 June 2026
Jackson likewise downplayed Kemp’s last-minute nod for Jones.
—ABC News, 15 June 2026
The president’s doctors have downplayed concerns about his health as minor medical problems.
—Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 15 June 2026
Pulisic downplayed the discomfort.
—Jacob Lev, CNN Money, 13 June 2026
Manager Dave Roberts downplayed the injury, saying the move was precautionary because the Dodgers did not want to risk Ohtani being injured further.
—John Perrotto, Chicago Tribune, 12 June 2026
But in a video posted June 8 on Musk's social media platform X – acquired in 2022 when it was known as Twitter – the tech mogul downplayed concerns that the AI satellite venture would lead to further orbital overcrowding.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 12 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for downplayed
Verb
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When minimized, these bubbles stay on top of other apps.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
16 June 2026
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In recent years, younger academics increasingly alleged that Wood was too well-established, the epitome of the old-school historian who minimized the lives of slaves, women and Indigenous people.—
Hillel Italie,
Fortune,
9 June 2026
Verb
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Johnson is among six people featured by Pam Bondi whose cases have now been dismissed.—
Conor Wight,
CBS News,
21 June 2026
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Joe Root, Jofra Archer, Matthew Fisher and Josh Tongue were dismissed in two double-wicket maidens by Henry.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
21 June 2026
Verb
-
Our tactile and sensory life has been de-emphasized in favor of ideas, symbols, accomplishments, and abstractions.—
Ian Bogost,
The Atlantic,
16 June 2026
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The changes have included an overhaul of Google’s ubiquitous search engine that has de-emphasized a listing of relevant web links in its results and increasingly highlighted AI overviews and conversational responses provided through an AI mode.—
Michael Liedtke,
Fortune,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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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
“Downplayed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/downplayed. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.
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