1
as in to understate
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Recent Examples of underplay
And David Rosenberg subtly underplays Alex, an American ex-pat who’s haunted by ghosts of his own.
—
Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Feb. 2025
Mainstream economists, however, believe Trump may be underplaying how damaging his policies could be.
—David Goldman, CNN, 14 Mar. 2025
Some companies overstate the benefits while underplaying the hazards.
—Aimee Pugh Bernard, The Conversation, 28 Jan. 2025
Notice the costs of underplaying the conversation, which many tend to do.
—Hylke Faber, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for underplay
Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Feb. 2025
Mainstream economists, however, believe Trump may be underplaying how damaging his policies could be.
—David Goldman, CNN, 14 Mar. 2025
Some companies overstate the benefits while underplaying the hazards.
—Aimee Pugh Bernard, The Conversation, 28 Jan. 2025
Notice the costs of underplaying the conversation, which many tend to do.
—Hylke Faber, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for underplay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for underplay
Verb
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Lead by artistic director Alessandro Sartori, Zegna presented bomber jackets, scarfs, casual button shirts, wool jackets, shorts, and trousers that were understated while providing luster to common silhouettes.—
Cassell Ferere,
Forbes.com,
15 June 2025
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The look was a classy, yet slightly understated, diversion from Princess Kate's past Trooping fashion.—
Meredith Kile,
People.com,
14 June 2025
Verb
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Marlon takes on the guise of a thug named Roach and of course overplays the role.—
Caryn James,
HollywoodReporter,
11 June 2025
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Having a semblance of moderated AI regulations and laws that are flexible and not crushing is potentially worth considering, but the inherent nature of any such encumbrances is that they will be overplayed and shut down AI innovation.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes,
19 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Drug ads often downplay the risks, leading to uninformed decisions.—
Phillip Molnar,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
19 June 2025
-
Thomson downplayed the drama before Tuesday’s game.—
Anthony Stitt,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2025
Verb
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The Patriot Act was enacted following 9/11, that expanded search and surveillance powers of federal law enforcement and intelligence and effectively justified the tearing down of those privacy silos.—
Hessie Jones,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2025
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Many of those same states have also enacted measures prohibiting transgender athletes from competing in women's sports.—
June 18,
CBS News,
18 June 2025
Verb
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The college student performers from the Hartt School aren’t encouraged to overact during the party scene anymore — no more drunk jokes or pratfalls.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
11 Dec. 2024
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One could easily be accused of overacting, of doing too much.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
20 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The new study explores an entirely different hypothesis: Maybe some bosses act out on purpose.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
6 June 2025
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However, the dog might also be acting out of boredom, using destructive behavior as a coping mechanism.—
Maria Azzurra Volpe,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 June 2025
Verb
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The Law & Crime Network has even used AI to help dramatize the trial.—
Lisa Respers France,
CNN Money,
21 May 2025
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Renoir’s film dramatized the end of an era (of high-society frivolities, as war loomed), and so does Anderson’s; namely, the end of the age of buccaneer industrialism.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
29 May 2025
Verb
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Think in terms of deepfakes, where video and audio can be created to mimic the real user.—
Skip Sanzeri,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2025
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An additional 13 participants were assigned to placebo patches with Tabasco sauce to mimic the itch of entering worms.—
Smithsonian Magazine,
Smithsonian Magazine,
12 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Underplay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/underplay. Accessed 23 Jun. 2025.
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