as in minimizes
to reduce in apparent importance
he self-deprecatingly downplays his own contributions to the festival's success
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Recent Examples of downplays
San Diego economist Ray Major downplays the impacts of declining immigration, pointing out that the far more concerning issue is the continuing exodus of residents, who far outnumber those who are moving here.
—
Lori Weisberg, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026
However, the show downplays the severity of the incident and most crucially the fact that a child was present and injured in the melee.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 24 Mar. 2026
Benjamin Netanyahu signals restraint on energy strikes and downplays Iran’s capabilities.
—Abhishek Shanker, Bloomberg, 20 Mar. 2026
Govan, for his part, downplays the controversy.
—Nate Freeman, Vanity Fair, 6 Mar. 2026
Wicker argued that the blueprint — which downplays threats from China, focusing primarily on the Western Hemisphere — ignores implications of the Russia-Ukraine war and lacks information about interests in the Middle East amid the turmoil in Iran.
—The Hill Staff - 03, The Hill, 5 Mar. 2026
Writer/director Hammer, though, downplays the melodrama inherent to this scenario, even while shooting sequences, whether in Martin and Leslie’s apartment or in various hospitals, with a bracing handheld intimacy.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 17 Feb. 2026
The split between Pack, who went on to start his own venture firm Hack VC, and Dragonfly is the stuff of crypto VC lore, though Qureshi downplays the drama.
—Leo Schwartz, Fortune, 17 Feb. 2026
This downplays the robotic look somewhat.
—James Morris, Forbes.com, 17 Jan. 2026
Lori Weisberg, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026
However, the show downplays the severity of the incident and most crucially the fact that a child was present and injured in the melee.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 24 Mar. 2026
Benjamin Netanyahu signals restraint on energy strikes and downplays Iran’s capabilities.
—Abhishek Shanker, Bloomberg, 20 Mar. 2026
Govan, for his part, downplays the controversy.
—Nate Freeman, Vanity Fair, 6 Mar. 2026
Wicker argued that the blueprint — which downplays threats from China, focusing primarily on the Western Hemisphere — ignores implications of the Russia-Ukraine war and lacks information about interests in the Middle East amid the turmoil in Iran.
—The Hill Staff - 03, The Hill, 5 Mar. 2026
Writer/director Hammer, though, downplays the melodrama inherent to this scenario, even while shooting sequences, whether in Martin and Leslie’s apartment or in various hospitals, with a bracing handheld intimacy.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 17 Feb. 2026
The split between Pack, who went on to start his own venture firm Hack VC, and Dragonfly is the stuff of crypto VC lore, though Qureshi downplays the drama.
—Leo Schwartz, Fortune, 17 Feb. 2026
This downplays the robotic look somewhat.
—James Morris, Forbes.com, 17 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for downplays
Verb
-
The administration minimizes the overall budgetary effect of its spending plans by projecting average growth in gross national product at 3% annually over the next decade.—
Business Columnist,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Apr. 2026
-
The action, whether intentional or not, reflects a harmful pattern that minimizes Black voices and their experiences.—
Kayla Hayempour,
NBC news,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The former Vista City Council candidate dismisses the advantage Democrats now hold.—
Lucas Robinson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Descovich dismisses the criticism.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Downplays.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/downplays. Accessed 11 Apr. 2026.
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