as in to downplay
to reduce in apparent importance
she politely tries to soft-pedal her accomplishments when talking to less fortunate people
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Recent Examples of soft pedal
Peter Rainer, The Christian Science Monitor, 27 Feb. 2025
Authors aimed at the business market tend to soft pedal AI, speaking only about the benefits while downplaying or outright ignoring the dangers.
—David A. Teich, Forbes, 10 Sep. 2024
This is a two-part skill; his superb legato (or connected articulation) on the keyboard was heightened by skillful deployment of both the sustaining and the soft pedal.
—Marcus Overton, sandiegouniontribune.com, 8 Jan. 2018
Alex Ward, Boston Herald, 15 Aug. 2025
This soft-pedalling impulse is evident in the revival’s treatment of Hank’s next-door neighbor Dale, a conspiracy nut who blames the U.N., the U.S. military, and the Cuban government for life’s inconveniences.
—Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 8 Aug. 2025
Goldberg Tuesday scoffed at the denials and efforts to soft-pedal the extent and potential danger of the breach.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 25 Mar. 2025
Jean-Baptiste, her mouth set in a tight-lipped frown, her eyes ablaze with fear and loathing, soft-pedals nothing.
—Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 3 Jan. 2025
The movie One of the darkest true stories on this list, An American Crime never undersells or soft-pedals the ceaseless agony of Likens’ ordeal.
—Declan Gallagher and Chris Bellamy, EW.com, 31 Oct. 2024
Popular on Variety Navarro doesn’t soft-pedal her disdain for recent remarks former President Donald Trump has made about immigrants eating dogs and cats — just one of the hot topics Phillip and a shifting ensemble of pundits, reporters and experts tackle each weeknight.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 18 Sep. 2024
But Morrow’s quiet intensity, which doesn’t soft-pedal Isaac’s arrogance and belligerence, has a haunting quality.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 16 July 2024
Verb
But at least Chalamet doesn’t try to soft pedal Dylan’s surliness and careerism, and his vocal re-creations are mostly spot on.
—Peter Rainer, The Christian Science Monitor, 27 Feb. 2025
Authors aimed at the business market tend to soft pedal AI, speaking only about the benefits while downplaying or outright ignoring the dangers.
—David A. Teich, Forbes, 10 Sep. 2024
This is a two-part skill; his superb legato (or connected articulation) on the keyboard was heightened by skillful deployment of both the sustaining and the soft pedal.
—Marcus Overton, sandiegouniontribune.com, 8 Jan. 2018
Noun
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
This soft-pedalling impulse is evident in the revival’s treatment of Hank’s next-door neighbor Dale, a conspiracy nut who blames the U.N., the U.S. military, and the Cuban government for life’s inconveniences.
—Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 8 Aug. 2025
Goldberg Tuesday scoffed at the denials and efforts to soft-pedal the extent and potential danger of the breach.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 25 Mar. 2025
Jean-Baptiste, her mouth set in a tight-lipped frown, her eyes ablaze with fear and loathing, soft-pedals nothing.
—Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 3 Jan. 2025
The movie One of the darkest true stories on this list, An American Crime never undersells or soft-pedals the ceaseless agony of Likens’ ordeal.
—Declan Gallagher and Chris Bellamy, EW.com, 31 Oct. 2024
Popular on Variety Navarro doesn’t soft-pedal her disdain for recent remarks former President Donald Trump has made about immigrants eating dogs and cats — just one of the hot topics Phillip and a shifting ensemble of pundits, reporters and experts tackle each weeknight.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 18 Sep. 2024
But Morrow’s quiet intensity, which doesn’t soft-pedal Isaac’s arrogance and belligerence, has a haunting quality.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 16 July 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for soft pedal
Verb
-
The president also appeared to downplay the Bureau of Labor Statistics’s jobs report that will be announced on Friday.—
Mabinty Quarshie,
The Washington Examiner,
5 Sep. 2025
-
His concerns were downplayed a few months ago by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.—
Diane Brady,
Fortune,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The one major slight that really puts a significant damper on things was the Jake Walman trade.—
Dom Luszczyszyn,
New York Times,
20 Aug. 2025
-
Baltimore’s heat index could reach the triple digits under sunny skies on Sunday before some cooler, damper air along with storms roll in to start the work week.—
Baltimore Sun staff,
Baltimore Sun,
17 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
In other words, while Europe continues to send arms supplies to the Ukrainian army, Europe is also careful not to go too far in order to minimize the prospects of a clash with Russia.—
Daniel R. DePetris,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Another way to improve pollinator activity is to minimize pesticide use near your trees and keep your garden and lawn as organic as possible.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
2 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Combined mode shows the total level for both inputs and mutes both at once.—
Phil Nickinson,
PC Magazine,
11 Aug. 2025
-
After accidentally starting a wildfire, 7-year-old Lu, mute and from an abusive home, slyly tricks Merribelle, a hardworking trans woman, into kidnapping her — sparking a beautifully unexpected bond with a devastating expiration date.—
Vulture,
Vulture,
12 Dec. 2022
Verb
-
The actor denied the allegations, and the case was later dismissed, per The Hollywood Reporter.—
Emily Blackwood,
PEOPLE,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Those who dismissed intersectionality saw such policies as little more than allowing the disadvantaged to commit crimes without consequences to make up for past inequities, afflicting crime victims from the same disadvantaged communities.—
John Scott Lewinski,
The Washington Examiner,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
This Avanti has a V8 engine with an R2 supercharger, power steering, a silent muffler, a floor-shift automatic transmission and Twin-Traction differential.—
Keenan Thompson,
USA Today,
31 Aug. 2025
-
This Avanti has a V8 engine with an R2 supercharger, power steering, a silent muffler, a floor-shift automatic transmission and Twin-Traction differential.—
Keenan Thompson,
Freep.com,
28 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Another addition to consider is a water softener in your shower head.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
22 Aug. 2025
-
Flush your water heater twice a year, and think about using a water softener to stop scale buildup in pipes.—
Tina Chen,
Mercury News,
5 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Soft pedal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/soft%20pedal. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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