1
as in to understate
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Recent Examples of underplay
However, testimony also revealed text messages and emails between Gray and his supervisors that prosecutors say appeared to underplay the severity of the incident on the day of the shooting.
—
Skyler Henry, CBS News, 24 Feb. 2026
Most importantly, the film tries to underplay the massive identity and religious politics that the Bengal border has seen since the lines were drawn.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 23 Nov. 2025
At one point, MacLachlan orchestrates a heart-stopping moment of reckoning for Bill and Tammy, written with a sudden, cathartic directness—a break in their usual language of deferential hesitations—which the actors underplay to perfection.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2025
None of this is to underplay the value of this agreement to Paramount’s streaming business.
—Josef Adalian, Vulture, 11 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for underplay
Skyler Henry, CBS News, 24 Feb. 2026
Most importantly, the film tries to underplay the massive identity and religious politics that the Bengal border has seen since the lines were drawn.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 23 Nov. 2025
At one point, MacLachlan orchestrates a heart-stopping moment of reckoning for Bill and Tammy, written with a sudden, cathartic directness—a break in their usual language of deferential hesitations—which the actors underplay to perfection.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2025
None of this is to underplay the value of this agreement to Paramount’s streaming business.
—Josef Adalian, Vulture, 11 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for underplay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for underplay
Verb
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But this might understate the true price because post-pandemic construction costs have risen faster than general CPI inflation.—
Jessica Gelt,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Apr. 2026
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The decor is chicly understated with classic, subtle Hawaiiana touches, like textured grass wall treatments, tropical patterns in neutral tones, and beautiful vintage woodblock prints (there’s also a fantastic collection of art and artifacts in the lobby that shouldn’t be missed).—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Lue has tried to stagger their minutes to not overplay them.—
Janis Carr,
Oc Register,
22 Mar. 2026
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One of the dangers with this particular title is that actors overplay, thinking that the show-within-a-show and period style offer some license in that direction.—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The NYT‘s profile either downplayed or omitted all of these glaring ethical red flags.—
Maggie Harrison Dupré,
Futurism,
9 Apr. 2026
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The organization has sought to downplay the news, sharing it on LinkedIn on Thursday rather than issuing a formal press release or splashy social media post to avoid detracting from Fashion Revolution Week.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Footwear News,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
No waiver is in place for the 2026-27 academic year, however, so a final year of college basketball for Buchanan will hinge on whether something similar will be enacted again for non-NCAA transfers.—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
6 Apr. 2026
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In setting new standards for the film-and-television industry, while also raising wages and benefits, this agreement was precisely the sort of thing Dube is advocating for other sectors to adopt, even though it was enacted through collective bargaining rather than by government action.—
John Cassidy,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
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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
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Adrien Brody can’t stop overacting in a commercial for TurboTax.—
Dee-Ann Durbin,
Fortune,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
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If previous records massaged her hedonism into silky, professional-grade pop, the sound on WOR$T GIRL is all sinew and scrap metal, a leaner and meaner vehicle for acting out.—
Harry Tafoya,
Pitchfork,
2 Apr. 2026
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Bimbofication is the act of dressing like an attractive dumb woman and acting out the part.—
Brian Niemietz,
New York Daily News,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Robber Robber don’t relive their apartment fire in literal terms on the album or dramatize the months spent living out of suitcases.—
Nina Corcoran,
Pitchfork,
3 Apr. 2026
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The movie’s attempts to dramatize her history of near-violence feel perfunctory to the point of incuriosity.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Martha Stewart, who introduced her followers to the tradition in 2005, resurrected the dessert a few days ago on Instagram with a photo of a cake expertly decorated with chocolate curls mimicking a lamb’s wooly coat.—
Lisa Gutierrez
April 3,
Kansas City Star,
3 Apr. 2026
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The proposal would need to be approved by Israel’s political leadership, which has already indicated a preference for carrying out widespread destruction of civilian infrastructure to establish a buffer zone, mimicking similar actions in Gaza.—
Leila Gharagozlou,
CNN Money,
3 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Underplay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/underplay. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
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