SOFT-PEDALED Synonyms: 39 Similar and Opposite Words

soft-pedaled

verb

past tense of soft-pedal

as in downplayed

to reduce in apparent importance she politely tries to soft-pedal her accomplishments when talking to less fortunate people

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of soft-pedaled 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for soft-pedaled

Verb

Shifting emphasis moving into the general election A number of Republicans have removed or downplayed references to Trump from their websites after winning their primaries.

— Steve Peoples, Fortune, 28 Aug. 2026
Patterson and some council members downplayed the relevance of those findings, however, saying they were dated and conducted in different cities under different circumstances.

— Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of downplayed

Verb

The study assumed the investor was a buy-and-hold investor, which minimized sales and thereby reduced taxes on capital gains.

— Bob Carlson, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026
At a time when antisemitism is too often minimized, rationalized or repackaged in more socially acceptable language, this kind of moral clarity matters.

— Tom Tapp, Deadline, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of minimized

Verb

Our tactile and sensory life has been de-emphasized in favor of ideas, symbols, accomplishments, and abstractions.

— Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 16 June 2026
The changes have included an overhaul of Google’s ubiquitous search engine that has de-emphasized a listing of relevant web links in its results and increasingly highlighted AI overviews and conversational responses provided through an AI mode.

— Michael Liedtke, Fortune, 6 Nov. 2025

Definition of de-emphasized

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soft pedal

soft-pedaled

soft-pedaling

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“Soft-pedaled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/soft-pedaled. Accessed 30 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of soft-pedaled

verb

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