downplay

verb

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

transitive verb

: play down, de-emphasize

Synonyms of downplay

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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
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.
The hedge fund veteran and Cabinet secretary chose a starting point for his analysis that downplayed the bond market’s reaction to Trump’s presidency. — Kevin Breuninger,matt Peterson, CNBC, 1 Sep. 2026 SiriusXM did not comment on that theory, but Cohen and Stern seemed to downplay the idea. — Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 1 Sep. 2026 Piker has downplayed el Sayed’s attempt to put distance between them and questioned his olive branches as an effort to moderate his criticism of Israel. — Ramsey Touchberry, The Washington Examiner, 31 Aug. 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 See All Example Sentences for downplay

Word History

First Known Use

1948, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of downplay was in 1948

Rhymes for downplay

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Browse Nearby Words

downpipe
downplay
downpour
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Cite this Entry

“Downplay.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/downplay. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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