1
as in to dismiss
to express scornfully one's low opinion of
out of sheer envy, she would always play down her sister's accomplishments
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to minimize
to reduce in apparent importance
if you play down your part in the project, you won't get the credit you deserve
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of play down
Mims made big plays down the stretch, too.
—
Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 21 Oct. 2025
Eventually, the Panthers will be able to make some big plays down the field with Horn extending his package of reps.
—Charlotte Observer, 16 Oct. 2025
The really big comedians will usually play down the block at the historic Orpheum Theater, which also features musical acts and kids’ shows as well.
—Peter Cameron, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025
Proud of our players for making plays down the stretch in critical situations.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for play down
Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 21 Oct. 2025
Eventually, the Panthers will be able to make some big plays down the field with Horn extending his package of reps.
—Charlotte Observer, 16 Oct. 2025
The really big comedians will usually play down the block at the historic Orpheum Theater, which also features musical acts and kids’ shows as well.
—Peter Cameron, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025
Proud of our players for making plays down the stretch in critical situations.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for play down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for play down
Verb
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In September, Hecox filed a notice to dismiss the lawsuit.—
Becca Savransky,
Idaho Statesman,
10 Jan. 2026
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Why was Alabama’s 31-17 loss to a 4-8 FSU team so easily dismissed by the committee?—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Cruz and other Republicans argued the decision minimized the gravity of an attack on the judiciary and could encourage future political violence.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
8 Jan. 2026
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Once stationary, deactivate all lights except the hazard flashers, engage the emergency brake, and release the brake pedal to ensure your tail lights remain unlit, minimizing the chance of other drivers colliding with your stationary vehicle.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Smith ran down the sideline and broke away from Livingstone’s defense inside of four minutes left in regulation, helping the Golden Bulls run out the clock.—
Shane Connuck,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Nov. 2025
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For more than 50 years, the harrowing Vietnam War image, which shows a nine-year-old girl named Kim Phúc running down a road naked, her clothes burned off in a napalm attack, has been credited to an Associated Press photographer named Nick Út.—
Maria Fontoura,
Rolling Stone,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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In a separate interview with CNN on Wednesday, Luntz also downplayed inflation as an election issue and drew a distinction with affordability.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
8 Nov. 2025
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One military leader did not name Bahonar but criticized officials who downplay the importance of the hijab mandate.—
Arash Azizi,
The Atlantic,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The show never talks down to the audience.—
Rachel DeSantis,
PEOPLE,
6 Nov. 2025
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Never met someone successful ever talking down to someone online.—
Tracy Wright,
FOXNews.com,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
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In fact, several of the investigators believed the shooting was intentional, and that the Biden administration had actually soft-pedaled the investigation’s findings to appease Israel.—
Scott Griffen,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Nov. 2025
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On the other hand, the idea of being Colorado sober soft-pedals the potentially addictive effects of cannabis and psychedelics, said Alton P. Dillard II, a media consultant for the One Chance to Grow Up nonprofit.—
John Wenzel,
Denver Post,
15 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Still seething after a sloppy 19-16 loss to the Detroit Lions, Johnson wasn’t hiding his dissatisfaction with a defeat that seemed to diminish his team’s momentum.—
Dan Wiederer,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
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Kaufman moved there 30 years ago, and since that time the island’s community has diminished by degrees, its youth lured away by better employment prospects in Provo and overseas.—
Henry Wismayer,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Foxworth stayed on the show until she was written off in the fourth season, and her character disappeared altogether.—
Raechal Shewfelt,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Nov. 2025
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With each dramatic turn the show has taken, several fan-favorite characters have been written off the show.—
Dana Rose Falcone,
PEOPLE,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Play down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/play%20down. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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