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
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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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of play down
While primarily utilized as a winger during his career, Dembélé often played down the middle for Luis Enrique’s side, spearheading a fluent and formidable front three, flanked by the dynamic Désiré Doué and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
—
David Close, CNN Money, 22 Sep. 2025
After a week of playing down to – and then slightly lower than – their last-place opponents, the Dodgers completed a three-game sweep of the Colorado Rockies with a 9-0 victory on Wednesday night.
—Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 11 Sep. 2025
Advertisement The President has sought to play down his connection to Epstein over the years.
—Rebecca Schneid, Time, 9 Sep. 2025
The two guards closed the fourth quarter in a close win over the Sky and star Angel Reese with each making dazzling plays down the stretch.
—Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 7 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for play down
David Close, CNN Money, 22 Sep. 2025
After a week of playing down to – and then slightly lower than – their last-place opponents, the Dodgers completed a three-game sweep of the Colorado Rockies with a 9-0 victory on Wednesday night.
—Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 11 Sep. 2025
Advertisement The President has sought to play down his connection to Epstein over the years.
—Rebecca Schneid, Time, 9 Sep. 2025
The two guards closed the fourth quarter in a close win over the Sky and star Angel Reese with each making dazzling plays down the stretch.
—Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 7 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for play down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for play down
Verb
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The Biden administration dismissed the lawsuit, and prosecutors dropped a grand jury investigation the following year.—
NPR,
NPR,
17 Oct. 2025
-
The revelation immediately erupted into a political crisis, with the head of prisons dismissed and Guatemalans threatening to protest.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
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SpaceX took steps to minimize the chances that the problem would recur on Flight 8.—
Mike Wall,
Space.com,
14 Oct. 2025
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The Brooke High Rise Straight, a narrow straight leg, is finished with laser technology to minimize water usage.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
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While letting the clock run down for the next play, Memphis committed a false start penalty.—
Chris Vannini,
New York Times,
19 Oct. 2025
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Foulla Niotis says her 17-year-old daughter, Maria, and Maria's best friend, Isabella Salas, were run down and killed by Maria's stalker despite months of complaining to police.—
Eric Shawn,
FOXNews.com,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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And Self was quick to downplay any potential shooting-woes carryover from 2024-25.—
Shreyas Laddha,
Kansas City Star,
18 Oct. 2025
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Sirianni tried to downplay questions about the position even when the season approached and the depth chart was unsettled.—
Zach Berman,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Johnson’s Trump was quick to talk down on the prolific late-night sketch show.—
Jack Dunn,
Variety,
5 Oct. 2025
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While Joan is visiting the Westside Hospital with her students, Michael (Omar Metwally) offers her the Chief of Internal Medicine position after she, not very subtly, told him not to hire anyone who is asking for it and talked down other potential candidates.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Translation: compliance burdens are rising, even if the U.S. is soft-pedaling near-term enforcement.—
Pam Kaur,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
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Nothing grates quite like those slick pharmaceutical ads blaring across the TV, promising quick fixes while soft-pedaling potential side effects.—
Alex Ward,
Boston Herald,
15 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Bean and squash yields (as measured by weight) were reduced when intercropped with maize, while maize yields were only slightly diminished when intercropped.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
14 Oct. 2025
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Give ample space to large vehicles - Trucks or buses can create a water spray that diminishes visibility.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The third quarter net-write off rate was flat.—
Kevin Stankiewicz,Matthew J. Belvedere,
CNBC,
17 Oct. 2025
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On the following episode of Monday Night Raw, Rollins was written off television in a shocking angle that saw his own faction, The Vision, turn on him.—
Andrew Ravens,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Play down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/play%20down. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.
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