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
Relevance
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
While Petro repeatedly promoted the idea of a return to Gran Colombia, his right-hand man, Benedetti played down the president’s rhetoric.
—
Alfie Pannell, Miami Herald, 10 Nov. 2025
Saudi Arabia’s Finance Minister Mohammed Aljadaan has played down concerns over Saudi Arabia’s growing debt pile (albeit a relatively low one of 32% of GDP) and deficit.
—Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 29 Oct. 2025
Freeman played down the epic nature of his homer to seal a game that officially lasted six hours and 39 minutes.
—Greg Rosenstein, NBC news, 28 Oct. 2025
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
Throughout the war, Israeli officials have consistently played down the severity of hunger in Gaza.
—Pablo Robles, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2025
That would seem to bode well for a team that has rarely played down to its competition this season.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Aug. 2025
Trump played down expectations ahead of the meeting.
—Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 15 Aug. 2025
Alfie Pannell, Miami Herald, 10 Nov. 2025
Saudi Arabia’s Finance Minister Mohammed Aljadaan has played down concerns over Saudi Arabia’s growing debt pile (albeit a relatively low one of 32% of GDP) and deficit.
—Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 29 Oct. 2025
Freeman played down the epic nature of his homer to seal a game that officially lasted six hours and 39 minutes.
—Greg Rosenstein, NBC news, 28 Oct. 2025
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
Throughout the war, Israeli officials have consistently played down the severity of hunger in Gaza.
—Pablo Robles, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2025
That would seem to bode well for a team that has rarely played down to its competition this season.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Aug. 2025
Trump played down expectations ahead of the meeting.
—Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 15 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for played down
Verb
-
The domestic violence case was dismissed and the theft charge had yet to be disputed in court.—
Tamia Fowlkes,
jsonline.com,
9 Nov. 2025
-
Carrie, meanwhile, is villainized for her admittedly deluded quest to reunite with her biological son in a world that has dismissed them.—
Hunter Ingram,
Variety,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Many employers minimized the risk by refusing to hire Black workers altogether.—
Equal Justice Initiative,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
-
The crowd roared when the Blue Jays got a big hit or a big out, and even booed when the baseball game was minimized into a smaller window when the puck was dropped.—
Mark Lazerus,
New York Times,
2 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
In the end, the power of the Cheney name was greatly diminished in GOP politics.—
Don Gonyea,
NPR,
4 Nov. 2025
-
Measles can have serious long-term effects, including hearing loss, diminished immunity from previous infections with other viruses and pneumonia.—
Stephanie Pappas,
Scientific American,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The Russian space agency has previously downplayed the danger of its weapons tests in space.—
Lauren Kent,
CNN Money,
9 Nov. 2025
-
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
Verb
-
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
-
Loveland, lined up to Williams’ right, ran down the seam in between the defenders.—
Kevin Fishbain,
New York Times,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
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
-
Last week, Ralo took to social media to call Thug a divisive figure who had previously talked down on Rich Homie Quan and YFN Lucci to peers in a similar manner.—
Andre Gee,
Rolling Stone,
3 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Played down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/played%20down. Accessed 15 Nov. 2025.
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