1
as in to understate
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Recent Examples of underplay
To describe the United States’ military interventions as mishandled, for example, is to criminally underplay their impact.
—
Emma Ashford, Foreign Affairs, 29 May 2020
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
See All Example Sentences for underplay
Emma Ashford, Foreign Affairs, 29 May 2020
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
See All Example Sentences for underplay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for underplay
Verb
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It's understated, lightweight, and comfortable, with excellent sleep tracking and health tips.—
WIRED,
Wired News,
8 July 2025
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The presence of an emotionally mature partner is often understated, but the impact is anything but.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
7 July 2025
Verb
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Schmidt’s one-timer from the top of the right circle cleanly beat Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy, who overplayed the near post.—
Eduardo A. Encina,
The Orlando Sentinel,
25 Apr. 2025
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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
Verb
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There are a number of reasons why, ranging from the comparatively low death toll to concerted efforts by contemporary civic boosters and business interests to downplay the extent of the damage.—
Rong-Gong Lin II,
Los Angeles Times,
29 June 2025
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As political misalignment in the United States emerges as a material investment risk, investors and companies are increasingly risking their long-term sustainability by downplaying it.—
Bhakti Mirchandani,
Forbes.com,
26 June 2025
Verb
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But this is the most restrictive outdoor ban ever to be enacted.—
Eleanor Beardsley,
NPR,
30 June 2025
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Another bill that would have authorized Gov. Ned Lamont to enact a bear hunt in Connecticut based on a future recommendation from DEEP also died on the Senate calendar earlier this month.—
Stephen Underwood,
Hartford Courant,
30 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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Puppies often chew shoes to soothe their gums when teething, while dogs lacking physical or mental stimulation may act out to get a reaction.—
Maria Azzurra Volpe,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 July 2025
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These questions are unpleasant to contemplate, but they must be asked: Did Trump act out of envy of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s military prowess?—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
24 June 2025
Verb
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Nothing dramatizes the human comedy with more precision than the sound of a happily narrow mind retorting to the wider environment.—
Anthony Lane,
New Yorker,
30 June 2025
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Austin Kelley’s debut novel The Fact Checker dramatizes these questions of fact, truth, and provability as the protagonist checks an article about the Union Square Greenmarket.—
Isabel Clara Ruehl
June 16,
Literary Hub,
16 June 2025
Verb
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The blouse features a hint of a collar, soon-to-be-trending frog enclosures, and slits on the sleeves that mimic the trousers.—
Kathleen Walsh,
Glamour,
9 July 2025
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This rapid back-and-forth process mimics Kolb’s learning cycle and keeps your curiosity alive by making exploration dynamic and hands-on.—
Dr. Diane Hamilton,
Forbes.com,
9 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Underplay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/underplay. Accessed 14 Jul. 2025.
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