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
Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 27 Mar. 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
The flood of reports on Biden’s deterioration is another form of the same careerist impulse that led media outlets to soft-pedal his condition in the first place.
—Noah Rothman, National Review, 3 July 2024
Louis-Dreyfus is wonderful in this, ready for anything, never soft-pedaling her character’s flaws or panic or fear.
—Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 14 June 2024
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
Verb
In 2024, Paul Weiss didn’t soft-pedal its liberal leanings.
—Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 27 Mar. 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
The flood of reports on Biden’s deterioration is another form of the same careerist impulse that led media outlets to soft-pedal his condition in the first place.
—Noah Rothman, National Review, 3 July 2024
Louis-Dreyfus is wonderful in this, ready for anything, never soft-pedaling her character’s flaws or panic or fear.
—Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 14 June 2024
Noun
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for soft-pedal
Verb
-
President Trump downplayed potentially empty store shelves at his recent cabinet meeting.—
Rich Lowry,
National Review,
2 May 2025
-
Asked about the moment with Trump, Whitmer downplayed the gesture.—
Phillip M. Bailey,
USA Today,
1 May 2025
Noun
-
But despite now only having to endure a 10-percent reciprocal tariff, the rescinding of transshipment capabilities puts a major damper on Bangladesh’s export economy.—
Glenn Taylor,
Sourcing Journal,
11 Apr. 2025
-
New suspension, using Reiger shock dampers, helps to manage weight transfer and body roll, while absorbing all but the worst road surfaces with the kind of comfortable, cushiony float that only optimal valve tuning can produce.—
Michael Van Runkle,
Robb Report,
2 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Properly applied mulch prevents weed seeds from reaching the soil, stopping weed growth and minimizing competition for nutrients and water.—
Maryal Miller Carter,
USA Today,
25 Apr. 2025
-
Consider your burgeoning pimples and accompanying redness, minimized.—
Sarah Han,
Allure,
25 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
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
-
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.—
Mia Galuppo,
The Hollywood Reporter,
12 Dec. 2022
Verb
-
The charge was dismissed after Baldwin's attorneys alleged prosecutors had withheld evidence.—
Sharareh Drury,
People.com,
30 Apr. 2025
-
Baldwin denied pulling the trigger, and the case against him was ultimately dismissed in July after the prosecutors committed a Brady violation.—
Wesley Stenzel,
EW.com,
1 May 2025
Noun
-
The feline emerges from the muffler with its ears and neck covered with grease and oil.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
Peoplemag,
18 July 2024
-
But robot umps don’t know a buffer from a muffler.—
Jayson Stark,
The Athletic,
24 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Soft-pedal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/soft-pedal. Accessed 5 May. 2025.
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