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
Activists have long accused the government of downplaying the issue.
—
Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2026
And yet again, this mayor sits on the sidelines downplaying such violence with his typical rhetoric.
—Chicago Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026
Warren Buffett offered a measured but cautionary read on markets in his first public comments since stepping back from the chief executive role at Berkshire Hathaway , warning of lingering fragility in the banking system while downplaying the significance of recent volatility.
—Yun Li, CNBC, 5 Apr. 2026
Nation-states are highly invested in projecting certain narratives about a war that align with their interests while downplaying contradictory narratives.
—Literary Hub, 3 Apr. 2026
More than half reported hiding or downplaying their identity.
—Arielle Kaden, New York Daily News, 29 Mar. 2026
Kennedy dismissed a key panel of 17 experts who advise CDC on its vaccine decisions last year, replacing them with his own picks, many of whom have emphasized the risks of vaccines while downplaying their health benefits.
—Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 25 Mar. 2026
Long-time host Chris Harrison was dropped from the franchise after downplaying one of those incidents in an interview with Rachel Lindsay — the first Black Bachelorette.
—Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 21 Mar. 2026
Critics of Mamdani accuse him of downplaying the complexities of the city’s vast dispatch system while understating the number of calls that require a police response.
—ABC News, 19 Mar. 2026
Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2026
And yet again, this mayor sits on the sidelines downplaying such violence with his typical rhetoric.
—Chicago Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026
Warren Buffett offered a measured but cautionary read on markets in his first public comments since stepping back from the chief executive role at Berkshire Hathaway , warning of lingering fragility in the banking system while downplaying the significance of recent volatility.
—Yun Li, CNBC, 5 Apr. 2026
Nation-states are highly invested in projecting certain narratives about a war that align with their interests while downplaying contradictory narratives.
—Literary Hub, 3 Apr. 2026
More than half reported hiding or downplaying their identity.
—Arielle Kaden, New York Daily News, 29 Mar. 2026
Kennedy dismissed a key panel of 17 experts who advise CDC on its vaccine decisions last year, replacing them with his own picks, many of whom have emphasized the risks of vaccines while downplaying their health benefits.
—Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 25 Mar. 2026
Long-time host Chris Harrison was dropped from the franchise after downplaying one of those incidents in an interview with Rachel Lindsay — the first Black Bachelorette.
—Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 21 Mar. 2026
Critics of Mamdani accuse him of downplaying the complexities of the city’s vast dispatch system while understating the number of calls that require a police response.
—ABC News, 19 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for downplaying
Verb
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The serum is formulated with a holy grail powerhouse that consists of a fortifying complex, firming complex, and Matrixyl 3000—all pivotal for minimizing signs of aging.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Maybe so, but there's no minimizing the impact of size this week in Indianapolis.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The high court order allows a lower court to consider dismissing his indictment.—
Mark Sherman,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Apr. 2026
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Additionally, the judge took the rare and drastic step of permanently dismissing all legal claims brought by Brigandi’s client, San Diego resident Joanne Couvrette, against her brothers in the winery dispute.—
Alex Riggins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Downplaying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/downplaying. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
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