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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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

But the department downplayed critics' concerns about adverse effects.

— Rachel Treisman, NPR, 6 Aug. 2026
Reports of their interest in Porto goalkeeper Diogo Costa have been downplayed.

— Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of downplayed

Verb

Why This Matters For Your Family’s Legacy The peace of mind that comes from knowing your assets are optimally allocated, your tax burden minimized, and your family’s goals prioritized is invaluable.

— David Rae, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is proposing to eliminate a foundational safety principle that has for 50 years minimized the radiation people in the United States are exposed to and that has been adopted around the world.

— Jennifer McDermott, Los Angeles Times, 26 July 2026

Definition of minimized

Verb

Critics dismissed the elections, which were held in December and January, as a sham designed to consolidate the military’s grip on power while ostensibly restoring civilian rule.

— ABC News, ABC News, 9 Aug. 2026
Comey’s lawyers are pressing to have the case dismissed, accusing the department of misleading judges, submitting documents containing false statements and withholding key facts.

— Alanna Durkin Richer, Fortune, 8 Aug. 2026

Definition of dismissed

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

Browse Nearby Words

soft pedal

soft-pedaled

soft-pedaling

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Soft-pedaled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/soft-pedaled. Accessed 10 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of soft-pedaled

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

pedagogical

Popular in Grammar & Usage

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Aug. 7

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Games & Quizzes