as in minimizing
to reduce in apparent importance he self-deprecatingly downplays his own contributions to the festival's success
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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 downplaying The first began when Purdue Pharma, the company controlled by members of the Sackler family, aggressively marketed new prescription painkillers while downplaying their risks and generating enormous profits. —
The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 20 Apr. 2026 He has also been accused of downplaying the importance of historical context in negotiations. —Philip Wang, Time, 16 Apr. 2026 Kennedy dismissed a key panel of 17 experts that advise the CDC on its vaccine decisions, replacing them with his own picks, many of whom have emphasized the risks of vaccines while downplaying their health benefits. —Sarah Owermohle, CNN Money, 16 Apr. 2026 But Spielberg is a pro, and handles the material well (with the exception of downplaying the lesbian aspects of the story) and the cast delivers career high performances. —Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Apr. 2026 But official data may be downplaying the severity of inflation. —Jason Ma, Fortune, 12 Apr. 2026 Activists have long accused the government of downplaying the issue. —Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2026 Warren Buffett offered a measured but cautionary read on markets in his first public comments since stepping back from the chief executive role at Berkshire Hathaway , warning of lingering fragility in the banking system while downplaying the significance of recent volatility. —Yun Li, CNBC, 5 Apr. 2026 More than half reported hiding or downplaying their identity. —Arielle Kaden, New York Daily News, 29 Mar. 2026
The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 20 Apr. 2026 He has also been accused of downplaying the importance of historical context in negotiations. —Philip Wang, Time, 16 Apr. 2026 Kennedy dismissed a key panel of 17 experts that advise the CDC on its vaccine decisions, replacing them with his own picks, many of whom have emphasized the risks of vaccines while downplaying their health benefits. —Sarah Owermohle, CNN Money, 16 Apr. 2026 But Spielberg is a pro, and handles the material well (with the exception of downplaying the lesbian aspects of the story) and the cast delivers career high performances. —Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Apr. 2026 But official data may be downplaying the severity of inflation. —Jason Ma, Fortune, 12 Apr. 2026 Activists have long accused the government of downplaying the issue. —Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2026 Warren Buffett offered a measured but cautionary read on markets in his first public comments since stepping back from the chief executive role at Berkshire Hathaway , warning of lingering fragility in the banking system while downplaying the significance of recent volatility. —Yun Li, CNBC, 5 Apr. 2026 More than half reported hiding or downplaying their identity. —Arielle Kaden, New York Daily News, 29 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for downplaying
Verb
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Together, LaSota and Danielson hatched a plan to convince other Rationalists to live together on boats too, with the idea of minimizing their collective living expenses in order to make more room in their lives for intellectual work — work on AI safety in particular.— Tessa Stuart, Rolling Stone, 23 Apr. 2026
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The concept de la maison is a commitment to sustainability and minimizing waste.— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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After vacating the conviction, the judge took the additional step of dismissing the murder charge against Martinez, ending the criminal case against him entirely.— Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 21 Apr. 2026
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Before dismissing this activity or just trying to get through it, recognize your tendency to view nearly everything as a situation from which to extricate yourself as quickly and painlessly as possible.— Charles Yu, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Downplaying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/thesaurus/downplaying. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
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