Synonyms of downplaying

downplaying

verb

present participle of downplay

as in minimizing

to reduce in apparent importance

he self-deprecatingly downplays his own contributions to the festival's success

Synonyms & Similar Words

• minimizing
• dismissing
• de-emphasizing
• soft-pedaling
• understating
• playing down
• underplaying
• denigrating
• belittling
• disparaging
• decrying
• derogating
• deprecating
• depreciating
• running down
• talking down
• trashing
• bad-mouthing
• crying down
• trash-talking
• poor-mouthing
• putting down
• kissing off

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• exaggerating
• overstating
• overdoing
• elaborating
• stretching
• overdrawing
• magnifying
• embellishing
• padding
• embroidering
• hedging
• overemphasizing
• fudging
• overplaying
• sensationalizing
• melodramatizing

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of downplaying

But critics have accused them of downplaying the risks. — CBS News, 12 June 2026

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney hinted Wednesday that the opening could be delayed while downplaying any concerns. — Joey Cappelletti, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2026

The plaintiffs’ lawyers countered that Royal Caribbean was greatly downplaying the injuries the victims suffered. — Miami Herald, 9 June 2026

Fifield fired back at the New York Times in an X post on Friday for downplaying the story. — Britta Miller, The Washington Examiner, 6 June 2026

Nilsson, an incorrigible Midwesterner, had a history of downplaying her depth. — Jeremy Lybarger, Artforum, 2 June 2026

National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett painted a rosy picture of the economy Sunday, downplaying Americans' growing pessimism about the economy amid high gas prices and rising inflation as the Iran war goes on. — Ford McCracken, ABC News, 31 May 2026

Koepele has a business interest in downplaying the danger in New York waters. — Clara Molot, Vanity Fair, 30 May 2026

Draper accused Baker of downplaying troll behavior. — Lyz Lenz, Rolling Stone, 28 May 2026