UNDERPLAYING Synonyms: 71 Similar and Opposite Words

underplaying

verb

present participle of underplay

as in understating

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Dissimilar Words

as in overplaying

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for underplaying

Verb

To call Molly and Frankie aimless would be, somehow, both understating the case and missing it completely.

— Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 12 Aug. 2026
Investor Michael Burry went further in November 2025, estimating that big cloud firms were understating AI depreciation by about $176 billion from 2026 through 2028.

— Robert J. Szczerba, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of understating

Verb

Tomlin, Fonda and Parton played a trio of secretaries who took revenge on their sexist boss by kidnapping him and enacting changes in the workplace in his name.

— Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 29 Aug. 2026
The appeal came less than 24 hours after Talwani issued a 14-day temporary restraining order blocking parts of USPS’s new rule enacting new guardrails on mail-in voting in the name of election security.

— Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of enacting

Verb

These positive connotations associated with scientific research help the AI industry signal altruism while downplaying their profit-making ambitions.

— Matthew Sun, The Atlantic, 4 Sep. 2026
Over the years, Marco Polo has adapted to the neighborhood’s changing demographics by downplaying its old-world Italian extravagance.

— Rachel Corbett, Curbed, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of downplaying

Verb

Although Craven’s touch is missing, Bettinelli-Olpin and Gillett honor his memory by mimicking his style while engraving their own slick mark.

— Michael Lee Simpson, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Sep. 2026
The 600-soldier 173rd Airborne Brigade, built to deploy wherever drones were needed, had been mimicking Ukrainian tactics and rapidly building its own systems to counter Russia and Iran-style threats.

— Konstantin Toropin, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of mimicking

Verb

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
Traditional Rocky Horror movie showings include a costumed cast acting out the events on screen, with bags of props handed out for audience participation during certain scenes.

— Anna Ortiz, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of acting out

Verb

One year later, Clooney, 65, is back at the Venice Film Festival for a spin in the spotlight on the opening night for a bit of life imitating art.

— Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2026
Slop is formulaic and impersonal, the aggregate of everything that is already imitating everything else.

— Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of imitating

Verb

Tonga, the sixth-year pro who helped the New England Patriots return to the Super Bowl last season, excels at taking on double teams.

— Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 7 Sep. 2026
Before taking on her first solo anchoring role, Hylton frequently served as a fill-in anchor across the network’s morning, dayside and primetime programming.

— Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 31 Aug. 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.

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underplayed

underplaying

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“Underplaying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/underplaying. Accessed 15 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of underplaying

verb

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