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
Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 31 Mar. 2026
Whatever your preconceived notions about Feldman are, Hume’s film will expand and challenge them; the movie’s greatness lies in its ability to capture all of Feldman’s contradictions and self-destructiveness, empathizing with him without soft-pedaling his sins.
—Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 23 Jan. 2026
But a communications strategy designed to soft-pedal radioactive contamination of food won’t make America healthy.
—Washington Post, 22 Jan. 2026
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
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
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
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
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
Whatever your preconceived notions about Feldman are, Hume’s film will expand and challenge them; the movie’s greatness lies in its ability to capture all of Feldman’s contradictions and self-destructiveness, empathizing with him without soft-pedaling his sins.
—Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 23 Jan. 2026
But a communications strategy designed to soft-pedal radioactive contamination of food won’t make America healthy.
—Washington Post, 22 Jan. 2026
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
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
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
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
-
In France, following the G7 meeting on Friday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio downplayed the cooperation between Iran and Russia.—
Margaret Brennan,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Saylor, the co-founder and executive chairman of the company, downplayed the concentration risk, saying overall liquidity and decentralization limit the impact of any single holder.—
Tanaya Macheel,
CNBC,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Joey Wiemer jumped on a 2-1 splitter below the zone for a three-run blast that put a quick damper on Imanaga’s strong spring finale.—
Andy Martinez,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Mar. 2026
-
With its adaptive dampers and massive brakes, the M5 moves swiftly and with confidence.—
James Raia,
Mercury News,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
There is a commitment to that philosophy, even as there is a determination to minimize bad outcomes as much as is humanly possible.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Mar. 2026
-
By generating electricity from fuel during flight and switching to a quieter electric mode when required, the system allows smaller drones to extend their operational range while minimizing noise and thermal signatures.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Huffman turned his mute on and his camera off.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Gazes tangle, sound mutes, time bends.—
Addie Citchens,
New Yorker,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Authorities had since dismissed her lawyers’ requests to send her to a hospital for urgent treatment.—
Cora Engelbrecht,
New Yorker,
3 Apr. 2026
-
There is a long history of women's pain being dismissed by doctors, incorrectly categorized as period pain or rooted in psychological distress.—
Madeline Mitchell,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Prosecutors also allege that McKee used a firearm with a muffler, according to a copy of the grand jury indictment obtained by PEOPLE.—
Chris Spargo,
PEOPLE,
16 Jan. 2026
-
Heemeyer was a welder who owned a muffler shop in town.—
John B. Snow,
Outdoor Life,
11 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
For extra help, Gupta says most people are OK to use a gentle laxative or stool softener.—
Nicole Hernandez,
USA Today,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Bryde launders her sink skirt without any other items in the washing machine, sans softener.—
Sarah Lyon,
The Spruce,
4 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Soft-pedal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/soft-pedal. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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