as in criticism
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Dissimilar Words
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of soft-pedaling
Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 23 Jan. 2026
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
Verb
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for soft-pedaling
Noun
-
The move comes after mounting criticism from international investors following years of power outages and disruptions for businesses in Africa’s biggest economy.—
Preeti Jha,
semafor.com,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Amid relentless criticism, Bad Bunny gave us a moment in which enjoyment and pride functioned as resistance.—
Lara N. Dotson-Renta,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Parchment paper is an essential kitchen tool, helping cooks and bakers prepare flawless dishes while minimizing cleanup.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
10 Feb. 2026
-
The innovative idea also focuses on reducing operational costs, minimizing the requirement for buying expensive land to build data centers.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Monitoring and documentation requirements of releases are merely recommended, and avoidance and minimization of adverse impacts to animals, plants and the public are left up to the industry.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Feb. 2026
-
This is because asking for or receiving help feels awkward, which means that kindness is met with humor, minimization or a quick change of subject.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Although hopeful, other Republicans did not follow the president’s lead in downplaying their loss.—
David Zimmermann,
The Washington Examiner,
8 Feb. 2026
-
But good luck downplaying this moment, because Brown played the same two courses as Scheffler.—
Brody Miller,
New York Times,
23 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The immigration crackdown and shootings drew widespread condemnation and calls for federal authorities to leave.—
Nicole Acevedo,
NBC news,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Nobody would have been surprised to hear Bad Bunny use one of the year’s biggest stages to levy direct condemnation of the administration’s dehumanizing bigotry.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
If addiction ends in reconnection, as Kennedy says, then dismissing interventions that create stability, trust, and continuity in people’s lives is counterproductive.—
Washington Post,
Washington Post,
10 Feb. 2026
-
But the designer explained in his letter that the seasonal campaign is more focused on the theme of dependency and the support of a community, dismissing self sufficiency.—
Luisa Zargani,
Footwear News,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Other Canadian Jewish groups offered stronger denunciations of the new approach.—
Grace Gilson,
Sun Sentinel,
9 Feb. 2026
-
The killings have stoked massive protests, heated denunciations of ICE from Democrats and pleas for de-escalation from business leaders.—
Kevin Breuninger,
CNBC,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Following Rourke’s denouncement of the GoFundMe effort, Hines told fans that if Rourke didn’t want the money, donors would be reimbursed.—
Charisma Madarang,
Rolling Stone,
15 Jan. 2026
-
In coordination with former President Franklin Roosevelt’s public denouncement of discrimination of Black Americans, Plato, president of the Plato Construction Company, was contracted to build 88 houses on the site of Camp Taylor, the former military installation in southwest Louisville.—
Steve Wiser,
Louisville Courier Journal,
22 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Soft-pedaling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/soft-pedaling. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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