Synonyms

downplay

American

[doun-pley] / ˈdaʊnˌpleɪ /

verb (used with object)

to treat or speak of (something) so as to reduce emphasis on its importance, value, strength, etc..

The press has downplayed the president's role in the negotiations.

downplay British

/ ˈdaʊnˌpleɪ /

verb

(tr) to play down; make little of

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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Etymology

Origin of downplay

1950–55; down ¹ + play, from verb phrase play down

Explanation

To downplay something is to act as if it's not very important. If you're trying to convince your friends to play poker with you, you might downplay the fact that you're an experienced and competitive player. Politicians who depend on contributions from oil and gas companies tend to downplay the environmental effects of their products, and a boy who wants a trampoline for his birthday might downplay the possible dangers when he talks to his parents about it. Downplay is a relatively recent addition to the English language, dating from the late 1960s.

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Take this spring’s Michael Jackson biopic, a film that purged Jackson of all of his eccentricities in an attempt to downplay the allegations that clouded his late career.

From Salon • Jul. 8, 2026

The otter swim instructors say they were told to downplay the bites as “just animal things” and to offer Neosporin and a bandaid.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 2, 2026

McSweeney also sought to downplay claims about Lord Mandelson's influence over the current Labour government, arguing that while he would offer up advice he was far from the only figure to do this.

From BBC • Apr. 28, 2026

The strong desire to remain at home can lead owners to downplay future expenses and assume things will somehow “work out.”

From MarketWatch • Apr. 15, 2026

They try to keep smiling and downplay the hardship.

From "Native Speaker" by Chang-rae Lee

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023