de-emphasize

American  

[dee-em-fuh-sahyz] / diˈɛm fəˌsaɪz /

especially British, de-emphasise

verb (used with object)

de-emphasized, de-emphasizing

1. to place less emphasis upon; reduce in importance, size, scope, etc..

   The university de-emphasized intercollegiate football.

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de-emphasize British  

/ diːˈɛmfəˌsaɪz /

verb

1. (tr) to remove emphasis from

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Etymology

Origin of de-emphasize

First recorded in 1935–40; de- + emphasize

Example Sentences

Work has slowed and staff cuts have deepened, while the project has been de-emphasized in government documents and presentations in recent months.

From The Wall Street Journal

All told, the changes are moving UChicago to what Ando sees as a place where graduate education is de-emphasized, the undergraduate college is expanding and more students are taught by cheaper, non-tenure-track faculty.

From The Wall Street Journal

To carry out her vision, McMahon has brought on at least 20 political appointees from ultraconservative think tanks and advocacy groups eager to de-emphasize public schools, which have educated students for roughly 200 years.

From Salon

This focus on tax cuts appears intended to de-emphasize the billions in spending approved under the Big Beautiful Bill — spending that was Vance’s primary focus earlier this year.

From Salon

Mr. Trump and his allies, then and now, have tried to tie Mr. Biden to progressive local officials who, for a time, de-emphasized prosecution of some nonviolent crimes to reduce incarceration rates.

From New York Times