1
as in dismissed
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 minimized
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 played down
The continent’s cautious response to the war in Iran, and Trump’s broader threats, have sparked fears that a diplomatic divide could escalate into another trade confrontation, but one expert played down the rift between the trans-Atlantic partners.
—
Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 8 Mar. 2026
In the interview, Kifowit has played down the urgency of modernizing the comptroller’s office, saying improvements are already underway.
—Jeremy Gorner, Chicago Tribune, 4 Mar. 2026
But Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Monday played down growing worry about the economic impact on oil shipments from the Middle East, saying Japan has oil reserves at home that can last for several months.
—Arkansas Online, 3 Mar. 2026
Using his Instagram broadcast channel, the Mexican musician played down the lyric that references him.
—Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 28 Feb. 2026
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has played down the violence as the work of a small group of extremists.
—Julia Frankel, Los Angeles Times, 25 Feb. 2026
Valvano warmed up to Spud, who, once again, held his own in a league where MJ played down the road.
—Kevin Sherrington
feb. 10, Dallas Morning News, 10 Feb. 2026
Head coach Andree Jeglertz dutifully played down any talk of a title being won with eight matches to go.
—Megan Feringa, New York Times, 2 Feb. 2026
Ahead of the demerger, ter Kulve played down these risks, arguing that for years TMICC has evolved its portfolio to include more products with reduced sugar, higher amounts of protein or in which portions can be controlled.
—Ian King, CNBC, 10 Dec. 2025
Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 8 Mar. 2026
In the interview, Kifowit has played down the urgency of modernizing the comptroller’s office, saying improvements are already underway.
—Jeremy Gorner, Chicago Tribune, 4 Mar. 2026
But Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Monday played down growing worry about the economic impact on oil shipments from the Middle East, saying Japan has oil reserves at home that can last for several months.
—Arkansas Online, 3 Mar. 2026
Using his Instagram broadcast channel, the Mexican musician played down the lyric that references him.
—Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 28 Feb. 2026
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has played down the violence as the work of a small group of extremists.
—Julia Frankel, Los Angeles Times, 25 Feb. 2026
Valvano warmed up to Spud, who, once again, held his own in a league where MJ played down the road.
—Kevin Sherrington
feb. 10, Dallas Morning News, 10 Feb. 2026
Head coach Andree Jeglertz dutifully played down any talk of a title being won with eight matches to go.
—Megan Feringa, New York Times, 2 Feb. 2026
Ahead of the demerger, ter Kulve played down these risks, arguing that for years TMICC has evolved its portfolio to include more products with reduced sugar, higher amounts of protein or in which portions can be controlled.
—Ian King, CNBC, 10 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for played down
Verb
-
After the allegations against his son, the official was dismissed from his post, according to a decision published Wednesday in the state government’s official gazette.—
Eléonore Hughes,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Figures in the main opposition Republican People’s Party, known by its Turkish initials CHP, have dismissed the charges as politically motivated.—
Beril Akman,
Bloomberg,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
From there Crochet regrouped and minimized the damage, drawing a run-scoring double play and a flyout to keep it a 2-0 game.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
9 Mar. 2026
-
But to re-examine them with the benefit of distance — to see what was emphasized, what was minimized, what might have been left unsaid.—
Amisha Padnani,
New York Times,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Liverpool’s transition threat has diminished.—
Andy Jones,
New York Times,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Extensive research shows that insufficient sleep is associated with impaired cognitive function, chronic health problems, diminished productivity and an increase in traffic accidents, just to name a few.—
Stephen Neely,
The Conversation,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Last week, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt downplayed the significance of an Iran-Russia intelligence partnership and said that any Russian assistance had not changed the battlefield dynamics, pointing to operations that have significantly degraded Iranian capabilities.—
Claire Carter,
The Washington Examiner,
8 Mar. 2026
-
And not only downplayed but dismissed, in some cases, buried.—
Scott Pelley,
CBS News,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Prosecutors said Haney intentionally drove his SUV onto the Commonwealth Avenue Mall near the intersection with Hereford Street and ran down Axelrod, who was walking his dog at the time.—
Riley Rourke,
CBS News,
13 Feb. 2026
-
The piers of an unfinished, elevated toll road, the Skyway, ran down the center of one of the streets, Gregorio Araneta Avenue, which also happened to be the home of Manila’s new boom industry, a mile-and-a-half-long strip of funeral homes, florists, and crematoria.—
Sean Williams,
Harpers Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
After Jacksonville, after years of fans feeling talked down to and reporters feeling undermined, this silly little event served a purpose for a change.—
Jerry Brewer,
New York Times,
3 Feb. 2026
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Played down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/played%20down. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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