as in minimizing
to reduce in apparent importance
she politely tries to soft-pedal her accomplishments when talking to less fortunate people
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in criticism
Related Words
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Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for soft-pedaling
Verb
-
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,
15 Mar. 2025 -
These kinds of films are already built on minimizing pain, not just for our hero but for all the characters.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
14 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
YouTube and other social media platforms are cracking down on age verification measures after facing criticism that teens could circumvent their safeguards by signing up with a fake birthdate.—
Clare Duffy,
CNN Money,
13 Aug. 2025
-
With this deal, the UFC has put itself in a position to quiet some of those criticisms.—
Brian Mazique,
Forbes.com,
13 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Too often, boards respond by downplaying concerns, offering vague explanations, or shifting blame elsewhere.—
Committee of 200,
Forbes.com,
9 Apr. 2025
-
Abandoning Ukraine and Europe and downplaying the Middle East to prioritize the Indo-Pacific is not a clever geopolitical chess move.—
Raja Krishnamoorthi,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Most importantly, the proposal provides that, when discovery items are turned over belatedly, judges can impose consequences that stop short of dismissing the whole case, if a lesser remedy can ensure fairness to the defendant.—
Jane Manning,
New York Daily News,
31 Mar. 2025
-
Just a few days later, the Israeli government effectively began the process of dismissing Gali Baharav-Miara, Israel’s attorney general.—
Aaron Boxerman,
New York Times,
27 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Trump's decision to deploy the military drew sharp condemnation from Democrats across the country, who said the move raises civil-liberties concerns at a time when crime in D.C. is dropping.—
Trevor Hughes,
USA Today,
13 Aug. 2025
-
The shooting drew condemnation for what some deemed an extreme amount of force.—
Madeline Buckley,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
His denunciation did little to change their policy.—
Rosalyn R. LaPier,
The Conversation,
12 Aug. 2025
-
His denunciation of Stephen Colbert was unforgivably petty.—
DP Opinion,
Denver Post,
28 July 2025
Noun
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Bolick pointed also to the Maricopa County Republican Committee's 2024 censure of the Arizona Supreme Court.—
Taylor Seely,
AZCentral.com,
3 July 2025
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Libby said no reason was given for Wednesday's surprise resolution that ended the censure.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
25 June 2025
Noun
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The actor also has been involved in occurrences of being verbal and physically aggressive, hurling racists invectives, as well as being out and out violent on a number of occasions.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
22 July 2025
-
After nights of clashes, then-President Donald Trump, known for issuing directives and invectives through social media, fired off a series of posts shortly before 1 a.m. on Friday, May 29, 2020.—
Chelsea Bailey,
CNN Money,
24 May 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Soft-pedaling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/soft-pedaling. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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