downplay
verb (used with object)
to treat or speak of (something) so as to reduce emphasis on its importance, value, strength, etc..
have downplayed
-
present perfectof downplay.present perfect
Used to describe actions that started in the past and continue into or have direct relevance to the present.
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.
Analysts have downplayed the long-term financial impact of the outbreaks on the restaurant industry.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 11, 2026
Some retail chains have been upbeat about the spring shopping season or have downplayed the threat of higher gas prices.
From MarketWatch ● Apr. 6, 2026
However, local media do not necessarily report on every incident, and state media have downplayed coverage of protests, while videos flooding social media are often impossible to verify.
From Barron's ● Jan. 3, 2026
Reaves might have downplayed his expanded role, but there’s nothing minor about this.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 1, 2025
These two debates, about thinking and knowing, interlock because both generations have downplayed the idea that the new science was grounded in a new type of engagement with sensory reality.
From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton
