Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

play down

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of play down

1 to express scornfully one's low opinion of
  • out of sheer envy, she would always play down her sister's accomplishments
Synonyms of play down

bad-mouth, belittle, cry down, decry, denigrate, deprecate, depreciate, derogate, diminish, dis (also diss) [slang], discount, dismiss, disparage, kiss off, minimize, poor-mouth, put down, run down, talk down, trash, trash-talk, vilipend, write off
Words Related to play down

discommend

abuse, scold

disapprove (of), dislike

censure, condemn, criticize, denounce, reprehend, reprobate

asperse, defame, malign, rip, slander, slur, traduce, vilify

discredit, disgrace
Phrases Synonymous with play down

dump on
Near Antonyms of play down

approve, countenance, endorse (also indorse), favor, recommend, sanction

commend, compliment, eulogize
Antonyms of play down

acclaim, applaud, exalt, extol (also extoll), glorify, laud, magnify, praise
2 to reduce in apparent importance
  • if you play down your part in the project, you won't get the credit you deserve
Synonyms of play down

de-emphasize, downplay, soft-pedal
Words Related to play down

underplay, understate

bad-mouth, belittle, cry down, decry, denigrate, deprecate, depreciate, derogate, dismiss, disparage, kiss off, minimize, poor-mouth, put down, run down, talk down, trash, trash-talk
Near Antonyms of play down

exaggerate, overdo, overdraw, overstate

elaborate, embellish, embroider, magnify, pad, stretch

fudge, hedge

melodramatize, overemphasize, overplay, sensationalize

Learn More about play down

  1. See words that rhyme with play down Dictionary: Definition of play down Nglish: Translation of play down for Spanish speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up play down? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show comments hide comments

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

purview

Listen to the pronounciation of purview

the range of authority or knowledge

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. catamount Vermont enters the Round of 64

  2. mendacious, mendacity George Conway calls Trump a liar

  3. crawdad New novel makes waves

SEE ALL

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games