downplay

verb

down·​play ˈdau̇n-ˌplā How to pronounce downplay (audio)
downplayed; downplaying; downplays

Examples of downplay in a Sentence

Athletes often downplay their injuries. he self-deprecatingly downplays his own contributions to the festival's success
Recent Examples on the Web Rogan during the interview downplayed the reports about Trump’s Hitler comments. Karissa Waddick, USA TODAY, 26 Oct. 2024 Isom in the Thursday interview also downplayed the effect of Boeing’s problems on the company, even as the aircraft manufacturer reports a $6 billion loss for the third quarter and faces more labor unrest after the company’s striking machinists rejected its latest contract proposal this week. Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2024 Harris has lost momentum with progressive and working class voters, downplaying plans to ban price gouging, breaking up monopolies and other economic populist messaging that gets to the heart of food system change. Errol Schweizer, Forbes, 24 Oct. 2024 Walker, who took over in August 2022, downplayed the significance of recent closures and noted last summer Frisch’s opened its newest location in the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport. Alexander Coolidge, The Enquirer, 24 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for downplay 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'downplay.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1948, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of downplay was in 1948

Dictionary Entries Near downplay

Cite this Entry

“Downplay.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/downplay. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

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