as in downplays
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
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for soft-pedals
Verb
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The humble Toney downplays that nickname.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
17 Jan. 2026 -
This downplays the robotic look somewhat.—
James Morris,
Forbes.com,
17 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Unlike autonomous cars which operate on public roads and uncontrolled environments, agriculture occurs on private land where everything is more controlled, which minimizes regulatory hurdles and potential for accidents.—
Sabbir Rangwala,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
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By investing in a construction that minimizes returns and maximizes sell-through, the total cost of ownership drops, even if the FOB price ticks up.—
Sophia Chu,
Sourcing Journal,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Yet this gloss dismisses something that might be better understood as a guiding principle, and suggests that criticism of Israel is an idealist’s liability rather than a stance with growing support among Democratic voters.—
Molly Fischer,
New Yorker,
21 Jan. 2026
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Leadership that dismisses or undermines inclusion inflicts real harm on students, faculty, and staff.—
Wanda James,
Denver Post,
13 Jan. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Soft-pedals.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/soft-pedals. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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