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
But official data may be downplaying the severity of inflation.
—
Jason Ma, Fortune, 12 Apr. 2026
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
Jason Ma, Fortune, 12 Apr. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for downplaying
Verb
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By identifying risks early, the care team at Saddleback Medical Center creates personalized care plans tailored to each patient’s unique needs, thereby minimizing complications and maximizing positive outcomes.—
MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center,
Oc Register,
16 Apr. 2026
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The higher threshold has prompted a shift in focus from minimizing federal estate taxes to lowering taxes on income and capital gains.—
Hayley Cuccinello,
CNBC,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In October, Superior Court Judge Judy Bae granted LCLJ’s motion, dismissing the city’s lawsuit and allowing LAFCO to move to the next steps in the process.—
Noah Lyons,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
11 Apr. 2026
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But dismissing it as fusty would be an unfortunate act of self-deprivation.—
Rachel Howard,
San Francisco Chronicle,
11 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Downplaying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/downplaying. Accessed 18 Apr. 2026.
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