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
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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
-
Because the Duggars adhere to a fundamentalist fringe of evangelicalism, the liberal media are often quick to use the family’s failings as a cautionary tale about Christianity in general, and conservatives can be too quick to interpret criticism of the family as criticism of the church.—
Tiana Lowe Doescher,
The Washington Examiner,
20 Mar. 2026
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Rock criticism was unheard of back when writers like Christgau, Greil Marcus and Lester Bangs first started out, forming their own niche within a greater movement that came to be known as New Journalism.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Even the Spotted Stone bar gets in on the eco action, utilizing all ingredients and minimizing waste (lemon and lime skins are processed and used to make homemade syrups for cocktails, for example).—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
20 Mar. 2026
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The microbiome also benefits from aerobic exercise, reduced stress and consistent sleep, as well as minimizing antibiotics and even having a pet — especially a dog, Cryan says.—
Holly Haber,
Dallas Morning News,
20 Mar. 2026
Noun
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In fact, according to the EFF analyst, many lawmakers have recognized these approaches, such as data minimization, in existing age-verification proposals.—
Barbara Booth,
CNBC,
8 Mar. 2026
-
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
Verb
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Those quotes were used to provide context and avoid downplaying the role of slavery in the Confederate rebellion, according to a former Harpers Ferry media specialist who inserted them.—
Karin Brulliard,
Arkansas Online,
3 Mar. 2026
-
There is no downplaying what’s happening here.—
Mohammed Sergie,
semafor.com,
1 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The move triggered condemnation from the African Union, the European Union, and countries including China, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia.—
Yinka Adegoke,
semafor.com,
20 Mar. 2026
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While the findings aren’t a condemnation of any one specific crossbreed, the study’s authors hope the new information will help dispel ongoing myths about designer dogs.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Haitian law also forbids dismissing workers for union activities.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Sourcing Journal,
17 Mar. 2026
-
Ferguson took 3-16, dismissing Linde to end the innings.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The author blamed Padilla Peralta for stoking a culture of denunciations, using terms that evoked the Cultural Revolution.—
Chang Che,
New Yorker,
8 Mar. 2026
-
The controversy connects to a larger schism on the right, with some conservatives pushing back against an increasingly vocal faction whose denunciations of Israel, critics say, often combine with blatant antisemitism.—
Peter Smith,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
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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
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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 22 Mar. 2026.
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