underplaying

verb

present participle of underplay
1
as in understating

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2
as in overplaying

Related Words

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for underplaying
  1. understating
  2. enacting
  3. downplaying
  4. mimicking
  5. acting out
  6. imitating
  7. taking on
  8. aping
Verb
  • Recent warnings about the potential destructive power of AI are understating the severity of the situation.
    — Geoffrey Irving, Time, 3 Oct. 2026
  • To call Molly and Frankie aimless would be, somehow, both understating the case and missing it completely.
    — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of understating
Verb
  • Universities started enacting trainings about consent and bystander intervention.
    — Zoe Sottile, CNN Money, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Now, communities are left scrambling to cut budgets and find new sources of revenues, such as enacting a local income tax.
    — Jim Masters, Chicago Tribune, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of enacting
Verb
  • But in recent months, T-Mobile has been downplaying the satellite service and floating the possibility of working with rival providers.
    — Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 8 Oct. 2026
  • In recent weeks, Mets fans have tried to rewrite history, downplaying his role as a leader, and Pete Alonso’s as well.
    — Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of downplaying
Verb
  • San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk and Indianapolis Colts offensive lineman Matt Goncalves were also fined for mimicking drinking beer as a celebration this season.
    — Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Some really solid casting there in evoking, but not mimicking, either Faist or Abbott.
    — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of mimicking
Verb
  • The diagnosis came after the actor learned that his own behavior of acting out dreams could be an early Parkinson's symptom.
    — Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Inside, under flickering lights, a group of reluctant strangers is coaxed into acting out, in a converted gymnasium, a wild tale promising redemption from agonizing tragedy.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of acting out
Verb
  • OpenAI denied intentionally imitating Johansson’s voice and later withdrew the feature.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Speaking of the oversized, the collection’s Handloom Cardigan fits the bill but spares you from imitating a balloon, courtesy of those vertical stripes (also known as the oldest optical trick in the fashion book).
    — Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of imitating
Verb
  • The sharp selloff in bonds has given investors a rare opportunity to lock in stock-market-like returns without taking on the risk that comes with equities, investment advisors to the ultra-wealthy told CNBC.
    — Hayley Cuccinello, CNBC, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Established in 2022, the Albies showcase the achievements of individuals who have dedicated their life to pursuing justice on a global scale, often taking on great personal risk in the process.
    — Erin Wisti, Footwear News, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of taking on
Verb
  • Critics and fanboy media thrashed Supergirl not just for its Guardians of the Galaxy touchstones, but also for aping Mad Max.
    — Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 29 June 2026
  • For Shorts, the label will appear as a small overlay at the bottom of the video itself, although that will add to the already cluttered look of the TikTok-aping Shorts.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 27 May 2026
Definition of aping
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.

Browse Nearby Words

underplayed
underplaying
underplays
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Cite this Entry

“Underplaying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/underplaying. Accessed 13 Oct. 2026.

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