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
Iran has launched missiles toward the joint US-UK military installation on Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, in what Iranian officials framed as a demonstration of longer-range strike capabilities previously downplayed.
—
Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 22 Mar. 2026
At the same time, Powell downplayed his confidence in that outlook, highlighting the unknowns now facing the central bank as oil and gas prices surge due to the Iran war.
—Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 19 Mar. 2026
Stelios Papadopoulos, board chair of Exelixis and a longtime biotech leader, also downplayed the notion of China as a threat.
—Megan Molteni, STAT, 19 Mar. 2026
Trump’s top White House economic adviser downplayed concerns that skyrocketing energy costs could hurt struggling American consumers.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 17 Mar. 2026
At the time, Bill Self downplayed those issues.
—Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 17 Mar. 2026
Despite an impressive $60 million global opening, some outlets immediately downplayed the achievement, casting doubt on the film’s ability to make a profit on its $90 million production cost.
—Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2026
Trump himself downplayed Russia's involvement during a news conference Monday in Florida.
—Mariam Khan, ABC News, 10 Mar. 2026
Trump has also downplayed the option of tapping the SPR.
—Garrett Downs, CNBC, 8 Mar. 2026
Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 22 Mar. 2026
At the same time, Powell downplayed his confidence in that outlook, highlighting the unknowns now facing the central bank as oil and gas prices surge due to the Iran war.
—Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 19 Mar. 2026
Stelios Papadopoulos, board chair of Exelixis and a longtime biotech leader, also downplayed the notion of China as a threat.
—Megan Molteni, STAT, 19 Mar. 2026
Trump’s top White House economic adviser downplayed concerns that skyrocketing energy costs could hurt struggling American consumers.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 17 Mar. 2026
At the time, Bill Self downplayed those issues.
—Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 17 Mar. 2026
Despite an impressive $60 million global opening, some outlets immediately downplayed the achievement, casting doubt on the film’s ability to make a profit on its $90 million production cost.
—Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2026
Trump himself downplayed Russia's involvement during a news conference Monday in Florida.
—Mariam Khan, ABC News, 10 Mar. 2026
Trump has also downplayed the option of tapping the SPR.
—Garrett Downs, CNBC, 8 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for downplayed
Verb
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How can the footprint of the building and a three-level parking structure to house about 300 cars be minimized?—
Erika I. Ritchie,
Oc Register,
22 Mar. 2026
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In cold-atom environments, where disturbances are minimized, even minute frequency shifts could become detectable.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In that context, historic preservation can be dismissed as sentimental, optional or even indulgent.—
Jennifer N. Pritzker,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Mar. 2026
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At a time of ballooning deficits, that shouldn’t be dismissed.—
Bloomberg Opinion,
Twin Cities,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
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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 28 Mar. 2026.
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