underplay

verb

Definition of underplaynext
1
as in to understate

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Dissimilar Words
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 However, because the artists were not of Mexican descent, Chicano music histories often overlook or underplay this era. — Oliver Wang, Los Angeles Times, 4 May 2026 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 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 Grammy winner kept her look understated while letting her accessories do all the talking.
    — Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Seydoux is movingly understated in this difficult film and role, with the camera often lingering on her face in harsh close-up.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of understate
Verb
  • Still, privately, government officials and business leaders told Semafor that South Africa would not overplay its hand by making any attempt to withhold access to these metals; PGMs make up more than a third of its exports to the US.
    — Alexis Akwagyiram, semafor.com, 21 Sep. 2026
  • The brothers pepper in POV shots of the climbers to literally put the audience in their shoes, but don’t overplay their hand, maintaining palpable reality even when the challenges mount to comical levels.
    — Todd Gilchrist, Variety, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of overplay
Verb
  • Musk has downplayed the sales slump at Tesla, focusing on the company’s future as a maker of autonomous vehicles and taxis.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2026
  • In his closing arguments Monday, Nov 2, attorney Ian Winter worked to discredit and downplay the six women whose allegations anchor the criminal case against Brand (via Sky News).
    — Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of downplay
Verb
  • Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Democrats should focus on enacting their legislative agenda when the new Congress convenes in January following the party’s decisive victories in this week’s midterm elections.
    — Carter Schroppe, The Washington Examiner, 8 Nov. 2026
  • Au Kam San, a Macao pro-democracy former lawmaker, was sentenced to 12½ years in prison after a closed-door trial that raised concerns about fairness in the Chinese casino hub's first national security case since the law was enacted in 2009.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 7 Nov. 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
  • Jenn asks Ryan if Dominic acting out at school has anything to do with her divorce.
    — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2026
  • This is vital, as sleepers might otherwise act out their dreams and harm themselves or others.
    — RJ Mackenzie, Popular Science, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of act out
Verb
  • Cooke does his best to dramatize these origins, often through dry humor, but the personalities involved don’t quite rise to the level of an Aaron Sorkin drama.
    — Julian Lucas, New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2026
  • When the third act slows down to dramatize the hours of Altman’s ouster from OpenAI, Guadagnino has almost no way of generating the sort of ice-blooded intrigue that runs in Fincher’s veins.
    — David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of dramatize
Verb
  • Fusion energy has long promised virtually limitless, low-carbon power by mimicking the physical reactions that fuel the Sun.
    — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 5 Nov. 2026
  • Batlló, Antoni Gaudí masterpiece whose roof arch mimics a dragon’s back].
    — Sean McGowan, New York Times, 5 Nov. 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 9 Nov. 2026.

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