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
Scott Griffen, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
On the other hand, the idea of being Colorado sober soft-pedals the potentially addictive effects of cannabis and psychedelics, said Alton P. Dillard II, a media consultant for the One Chance to Grow Up nonprofit.
—John Wenzel, Denver Post, 15 Oct. 2025
Translation: compliance burdens are rising, even if the U.S. is soft-pedaling near-term enforcement.
—Pam Kaur, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
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
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 fact, several of the investigators believed the shooting was intentional, and that the Biden administration had actually soft-pedaled the investigation’s findings to appease Israel.
—Scott Griffen, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
On the other hand, the idea of being Colorado sober soft-pedals the potentially addictive effects of cannabis and psychedelics, said Alton P. Dillard II, a media consultant for the One Chance to Grow Up nonprofit.
—John Wenzel, Denver Post, 15 Oct. 2025
Translation: compliance burdens are rising, even if the U.S. is soft-pedaling near-term enforcement.
—Pam Kaur, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
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
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
-
British officials downplayed the pause as temporary, insisting momentum would resume amid complex negotiations, but the impasse signals broader frustrations with Europe’s regulatory posture toward American innovation, market access, and economic sovereignty.—
Daniel Ross Goodman,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, however, downplayed the agent's injuries.—
Louis Casiano,
FOXNews.com,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Witnesses reported a loud explosion and saw sparks and flames as the jet went overboard, while below deck, the crosshead ejected from the sheave damper, ‘spinning like the Tasmanian devil’ in what was described as an ‘entirely preventable’ mishap, according to USNI.—
MSNBC Newsweek,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Dec. 2025
-
Manual dampers can also be used to regulate airflow.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
5 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Cruz and other Republicans argued the decision minimized the gravity of an attack on the judiciary and could encourage future political violence.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Once stationary, deactivate all lights except the hazard flashers, engage the emergency brake, and release the brake pedal to ensure your tail lights remain unlit, minimizing the chance of other drivers colliding with your stationary vehicle.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Additional features include one-touch mute for up to 10 hours, micro-mesh insect protection, soft night lighting to minimize disturbance, and bilingual English and French voice alerts for multilingual households.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
25 Dec. 2025
-
The mutes, the dropouts, the sense that an idea had sprung from the artist’s chest, been scrambled into code, then reassembled in a fugue.—
Paul A. Thompson,
Pitchfork,
8 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
In September, Hecox filed a notice to dismiss the lawsuit.—
Becca Savransky,
Idaho Statesman,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Why was Alabama’s 31-17 loss to a 4-8 FSU team so easily dismissed by the committee?—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Wall-to-wall carpet puts a muffler on all that.—
The Washington Post,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Ezell's building has something for everyone, from photos of the early years of the former muffler shop to , memorabilia from the Indianapolis 500 and racing personalities.—
Michelle Pemberton,
IndyStar,
9 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The vinegar will act as a natural softener and deodorizer on its own.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
18 Nov. 2025
-
Clothing manufacturers no longer must choose between using a softener that is durable but negatively impacts cotton’s natural absorbency or one that preserves the fiber’s ability to hold moisture but also washes off through home laundering.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
25 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Soft-pedal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/soft-pedal. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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