UNDERPLAY Synonyms: 68 Similar and Opposite Words

underplay

verb

Definition of underplay

as in to understate

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Dissimilar Words

as in to overplay

Related Words

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

Verb

Karp worked alongside the European design firm AED Planung on the interiors and overall look, keeping things clean, modern, and understated so the setting could do most of the work.

— Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 24 Sep. 2026
As a result, one lead record can understate the number of people involved while overstating the value of a single trackable interaction.

— David Steifman, Forbes.com, 24 Sep. 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

Players often downplay symptoms to stay on the field—and many signs of brain trauma, such as headaches, memory problems and fatigue, are easy to hide.

— Alexandra Pattillo, Scientific American, 23 Sep. 2026
Jones downplayed the significance of Hamilton's familiarity with Kennesaw State's coaching staff when asked on Tuesday.

— Michael Harley, Arkansas Online, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of downplay

Verb

Trump signed the bill into law last week but hasn't enacted the measures yet.

— HANNA ARHIROVA, Arkansas Online, 26 Sep. 2026
But the Musk trailer, which dropped Thursday, does not appear to fall in the category of the campaign advertising those bylaws were enacted to prevent.

— Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 25 Sep. 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

Those include the harrowing night terrors Tony begins to experience — intense, frightening nightmares that cause people with Parkinson’s to violently act out in their sleep.

— Michael Rechtshaffen, HollywoodReporter, 16 Sep. 2026
The better to act out empire’s idea of what disgusting demonic sickness looks like.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of act out

Verb

At any rate, Greengrass finally decided to dramatize the Peasants’ Revolt on the second day of the 2020 pandemic lockdown.

— Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 10 Sep. 2026
Nevertheless, the filmmakers have found an affecting way to dramatize the official line that Oasis are the biggest band in the world.

— Nate Jones, Vulture, 7 Sep. 2026

Definition of dramatize

Verb

Researchers want to gain a better understanding of when and how classical systems can mimic quantum math.

— Elise Cutts, Quanta Magazine, 23 Sep. 2026
Along with the sneaker appearing scuffed and slashed as if it’s been tangling with Ghostface, the tongue’s Nike branding mimics the font of the film’s logo.

— Riley Jones, Footwear News, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of mimic

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underpins

underplay

underplayed

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Style

“Underplay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/underplay. Accessed 27 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of underplay

verb

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