downplay
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.
Origin of downplay
1Words Nearby downplay
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use downplay in a sentence
That included participating in Pence’s infamous Wall Street Journal op-ed in June downplaying the idea of a coronavirus second wave — even as the outbreak was indeed resurging across the country.
A devastating picture of Trump’s coronavirus response — from a firsthand witness | Aaron Blake | September 17, 2020 | Washington PostAt the time, the president was publicly downplaying the virus’s impact.
Bob Woodward’s book proves Americans still want to read about Trump | Karen Ho | September 11, 2020 | QuartzRather than level with the American people back in February and March about the severity of what was coming our way, he downplayed coronavirus, called it a “hoax” and ridiculously said it would “go away like a miracle.”
For years, the league had downplayed or outright denied the link between football and brain injury.
Why Can’t Schools Get What the N.F.L. Has? (Ep. 431) | Stephen J. Dubner | September 10, 2020 | FreakonomicsIt also wants the updated law to retain the general prohibition on content monitoring obligations — and downplays the potential of AI to offer any “third way” there.
Google pushes Europe to limit ‘gatekeeper’ platform rules | Natasha Lomas | September 4, 2020 | TechCrunch
Hagel sought to downplay any rift in a statement to Defense Department employees.
Hagel Takes a Bullet for Obama: Inside the Defense Secretary’s Sudden Firing | Shane Harris, Tim Mak | November 24, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTEven people from the “nicest” parts of the country try to downplay that “niceness.”
Cleveland Comes Crawling Back to LeBron: The Masochism of Rust Belt Chic | Arthur Chu | July 15, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTInstead, she fouled out by trying to defend Obama and downplay the deportation crisis.
There have also been accusations that the U.S. network sought to downplay climate change in the shows.
Sir David Attenborough: Enough With the Creationists and Climate Change Deniers! | Nico Hines | February 11, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThe controversy did, however, motivate publishers to downplay evolution in their public school textbooks.
Creationism’s Latest Trojan Horse Edges Toward Virginia Schools | Karl W. Giberson | January 19, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
British Dictionary definitions for downplay
/ (ˈdaʊnˌpleɪ) /
(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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