Synonyms of soft-pedals

soft-pedals 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of soft-pedal

as in downplays

to reduce in apparent importance

she politely tries to soft-pedal her accomplishments when talking to less fortunate people

Synonyms & Similar Words

• downplays
• minimizes
• dismisses
• plays down
• de-emphasizes
• underplays
• understates
• denigrates
• derogates
• decries
• disparages
• deprecates
• belittles
• talks down
• runs down
• bad-mouths
• depreciates
• trashes
• trash-talks
• cries down
• poor-mouths
• kisses off
• puts down

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• exaggerates
• overstates
• overdoes
• elaborates
• embellishes
• stretches
• overdraws
• magnifies
• pads
• embroiders
• hedges
• overemphasizes
• fudges
• overplays
• sensationalizes
• melodramatizes

soft pedals

2 of 2

noun

plural of soft pedal

as in quieters

Related Words

• quieters
• softeners
• mufflers
• dampers
• mutes

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of soft-pedals

Verb

This loud-and-proud version of Sonny certainly feels progressive, but in a different way it soft-pedals Sonny’s complications. — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 31 Mar. 2026

Heringer believes the city soft-pedals crime, pointing to metrics that show improvement but not where pockets of violent crime persist. — Patricia Gallagher Newberry, Cincinnati Enquirer, 2 Sep. 2025