underplay

verb

Definition of underplaynext
1
as in to understate

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2
as in to overplay

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of underplay Not to underplay the seriousness of the situation, of course, but the suspect never made it inside. — Amber Harding Outkick, FOXNews.com, 27 Apr. 2026 Sometimes the functional sibling learns to compensate or cover for the dysfunctional one, to underplay strengths or wear a mask. — Christine Smallwood, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026 Though Shakespeare in Love won best picture, Spielberg’s film led a worldwide wave of remembrance for WWII veterans, as well as conversations about previous films underplaying the trauma of combat. — Jordan Hoffman, Vanity Fair, 16 Mar. 2026 Cast against type, Stamos has fun slyly underplaying a thoroughly depraved character. — Dennis Harvey, Variety, 14 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for underplay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for underplay
  1. understate
  2. overplay
  3. downplay
  4. enact
  5. overact
  6. act out
  7. dramatize
  8. mimic
Verb
  • The latest iteration opened in summer 2025, and true to Casetta’s signature style, the vibe is understated yet curated.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Fall 2026 is shaping up to be a major season for statement footwear, but one of the most polished trends, the high-vamp pump, is surprisingly understated.
    — Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of understate
Verb
  • Last season, Vítek Vaněček struggled in that role, which led the Mammoth to overplay Vejmelka for the second straight season.
    — Jesse Granger, New York Times, 25 June 2026
  • Campaigners, meanwhile, don’t want to overplay their hands.
    — Clayton Davis, Variety, 13 June 2026
Definition of overplay
Verb
  • Quincy Mayor Tom Koch is not backing down and has downplayed the religious meaning of the statues.
    — Neal Riley, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026
  • The Treasury Department has previously warned Chinese financial institutions that they could be sanctioned, but in public statements, top administration officials have downplayed China's role in the conflict.
    — Chris Boccia, ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of downplay
Verb
  • The change was enacted in the state budget bill and took effect July 1.
    — Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Americans kept lighting up, though, even after draconian federal and state anti-drug laws were enacted during the 1990s.
    — Bob Woods, CNBC, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of enact
Verb
  • That secret shakes Charlie’s love for his intended, messes with work, affects his performance in bed and prompts him to spiral out, overacting at every step.
    — Mark Kennedy, Boston Herald, 2 Apr. 2026
  • Adrien Brody can’t stop overacting in a commercial for TurboTax.
    — Dee-Ann Durbin, Fortune, 8 Feb. 2026
Definition of overact
Verb
  • Perhaps the threat wasn’t quite so dire, or its parameters were not well-enough defined, and the Secret Service acted out of a superabundance of caution.
    — Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Some children act out when they are stressed, worried or do not understand what is being asked of them.
    — Samantha Agate, Sacbee.com, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of act out
Verb
  • The Trial of Louise Woodward will dramatize the story of Woodward, an 18-year-old British au pair who in 1997 was accused of shaking to death a baby who was left in her care by her host family in Massachusetts.
    — Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 30 July 2026
  • Two teenagers, aided by an arborist, climbed a 100-foot pine tree outside a Pasadena high school Saturday to dramatize a campaign to stop a soil remediation project calling for the removal of nearly 200 trees at several school campuses.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 19 July 2026
Definition of dramatize
Verb
  • The casting of Lavernhe and Lottin is particularly inspired, as the two performers bring an affect to these characters that mimics the story’s dynamic.
    — Caspar Salmon, Variety, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Punk exploded in front of a handful of scared-to-death dirtsheet reporters who were out of their league, mimicking a helpless Tony Khan.
    — Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of mimic

Browse Nearby Words

underpins
underplay
underplayed
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Cite this Entry

“Underplay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/underplay. Accessed 22 Aug. 2026.

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