PLAYS DOWN Synonyms: 84 Similar and Opposite Words

plays down

verb

present tense third-person singular of play down

as in dismisses

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

as in minimizes

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 show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of plays down So there’s a chance to get some plays down the field for the Panthers. — Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 2 Oct. 2026 If any lingering question of home-court advantage persisted, it was made crystal clear in the final 30 seconds who had the biggest backing, as Barclays erupted in celebration of the Liberty’s game-winning plays down the stretch. — Annie Costabile, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026 Wang plays down the potential for renegade robots to wreak havoc. — Charlie Campbell, Time, 23 July 2026 Even for the Kremlin, which often plays down painful setbacks, the stark reality has become hard to sidestep. — Matthew Chance, CNN Money, 29 June 2026 Rhy made some huge plays down the stretch. — Christopher Harris, CBS News, 10 June 2026 But, powered by veteran guard CJ McCollum and some gutsy defensive plays down the stretch, the Hawks won 107-106 to even the series at one game apiece. — Lauren Williams, AJC.com, 21 Apr. 2026 The Hornets played great and made those plays down the stretch. — Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 15 Apr. 2026 Santos, who scored a career-high 31 points in the Warriors win over Brooklyn on Wednesday, made several big plays down the stretch. — ABC News, 28 Mar. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for plays down

Verb

Oppenheim dismisses the comparison, saying their series isn’t a conventional documentary.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2026
The incumbent's campaign dismisses the Democratic push as the last-ditch effort of a campaign that will fall short.

— ABC News, ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of dismisses

Verb

Although bullying usually runs down the chain of power – for example, from a boss to an employee – grade bullying flips that.

— Jason Walker, The Conversation, 3 Nov. 2026
The Brewers clawed back from four runs down and yet again proved why this team loves playing from behind.

— Jacob Lev, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of runs down

Verb

One of the proposal's drafters, Darien Shanske, a law professor at UC Davis, downplays reports of wealthy Californians relocating in anticipation of the measure.

— Trevor Laurence Jockims, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2026
Oeffling humbly downplays the appeal of his music, which has a familiar, early 2000s aesthetic that sounds indebted to the spirit of Yo La Tengo and Broken Social Scene, as well as contemporaries like Alex G.

— Britt Julious, Chicago Tribune, 23 Sep. 2026