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

At the same time, environmental groups are accusing Lineage representatives and emergency responders of downplaying the risks pose by chemicals released during the fire. — Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 14 July 2026

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