as in minimizing
to reduce in apparent importance
he self-deprecatingly downplays his own contributions to the festival's success
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Recent Examples of downplaying
Trump was busy downplaying the severity of the new coronavirus and insisting that the country had to swiftly reopen.
—
Rogé Karma, The Atlantic, 7 Jan. 2026
For one, Rebecca is mad at Charlie for downplaying the massive risk and selling his own gas-finding abilities so well.
—Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 5 Jan. 2026
Rodríguez tried to project strength and unity among the ruling party’s many factions, downplaying any hint of betrayal.
—Isabel Debre, Fortune, 4 Jan. 2026
Rodríguez tried to project strength and unity among the ruling party’s many factions, downplaying any hint of betrayal.
—Isabel Debre, Chicago Tribune, 3 Jan. 2026
Trump spent most of 2025 downplaying the significance of the files, at times lashing out against Republicans who demanded the release of information about other potential perpetrators.
—Stephen Fowler, NPR, 2 Jan. 2026
Yes, that was ESPN’s Joey Galloway calling the Canes the favorite to win the championship, weeks after downplaying UM’s season and advocating for Notre Dame to make the playoffs ahead of Miami.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 2 Jan. 2026
Marrazzo claimed Memoli made statements downplaying the importance of vaccines that closely mirrored the views of Kennedy, who has a long history of sowing doubts about vaccines.
—Michael Kaplan, CBS News, 17 Dec. 2025
Ryabkov was among those Russian officials downplaying the threat looming over Ukraine in the lead up to Moscow's full-scale invasion of its neighbor.
—Ian Pannell, ABC News, 15 Dec. 2025
Rogé Karma, The Atlantic, 7 Jan. 2026
For one, Rebecca is mad at Charlie for downplaying the massive risk and selling his own gas-finding abilities so well.
—Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 5 Jan. 2026
Rodríguez tried to project strength and unity among the ruling party’s many factions, downplaying any hint of betrayal.
—Isabel Debre, Fortune, 4 Jan. 2026
Rodríguez tried to project strength and unity among the ruling party’s many factions, downplaying any hint of betrayal.
—Isabel Debre, Chicago Tribune, 3 Jan. 2026
Trump spent most of 2025 downplaying the significance of the files, at times lashing out against Republicans who demanded the release of information about other potential perpetrators.
—Stephen Fowler, NPR, 2 Jan. 2026
Yes, that was ESPN’s Joey Galloway calling the Canes the favorite to win the championship, weeks after downplaying UM’s season and advocating for Notre Dame to make the playoffs ahead of Miami.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 2 Jan. 2026
Marrazzo claimed Memoli made statements downplaying the importance of vaccines that closely mirrored the views of Kennedy, who has a long history of sowing doubts about vaccines.
—Michael Kaplan, CBS News, 17 Dec. 2025
Ryabkov was among those Russian officials downplaying the threat looming over Ukraine in the lead up to Moscow's full-scale invasion of its neighbor.
—Ian Pannell, ABC News, 15 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for downplaying
Verb
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That pattern — local districts rejecting or minimizing antisemitism complaints, followed by state reversals and orders to change course — appears again and again across the Bay Area in California Department of Education documents obtained by Bay Area News Group.—
Molly Gibbs,
Mercury News,
12 Jan. 2026
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This higher specific impulse could dramatically reduce transit times to Mars, minimizing astronauts’ exposure to microgravity and cosmic radiation, both of which pose health risks over long periods.—
Chris Young,
Interesting Engineering,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Confidence can tip into defensiveness, so your challenge has a lot to do with asserting boundaries without emotional withdrawal and honoring your needs without dismissing others.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
5 Jan. 2026
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The president spoke little about democracy in Venezuela, dismissing a potential role for its longstanding democratic opposition in running the country in the immediate aftermath of the operation.—
Kate Linthicum,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Downplaying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/downplaying. Accessed 17 Jan. 2026.
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