as in downplays
to reduce in apparent importance
she politely tries to soft-pedal her accomplishments when talking to less fortunate people
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Recent Examples of soft-pedals
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
31 Mar. 2026
Heringer believes the city soft-pedals crime, pointing to metrics that show improvement but not where pockets of violent crime persist.
—
Patricia Gallagher Newberry,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
This loud-and-proud version of Sonny certainly feels progressive, but in a different way it soft-pedals Sonny’s complications.
—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
31 Mar. 2026
Heringer believes the city soft-pedals crime, pointing to metrics that show improvement but not where pockets of violent crime persist.
—
Patricia Gallagher Newberry,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
2 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for soft-pedals
Verb
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Even as Sand downplays party politics, Democrats are putting faith in him to blaze a trail in the state after struggling electorally in recent cycles.
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That's likely why Mindelle downplays that part of the gig, and instead focuses on the comedy that keeps her on her toes.
Verb
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An interior anti-reflective treatment minimizes glare in bright sun, and the glasses offer decent visibility in fading daylight.
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For Straight, Hydrated Strands Wavytalk The steam technology in this straightening tool infuses moisture into your hair, reduces frizz and minimizes heat damage while delivering sleek, pin-straight results.
Verb
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De Borbon dismisses the accusations as coming from a small group of disgruntled owners.
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Bisignano dismisses the criticism.
Cite this Entry
“Soft-pedals.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/soft-pedals. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
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