underemphasize

American  

[uhn-der-em-fuh-sahyz] / ˌʌn dərˈɛm fəˌsaɪz /

especially British, underemphasise

verb (used with object)

underemphasized, underemphasizing

1. to give less than sufficient emphasis to; minimize.

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Etymology

Origin of underemphasize

First recorded in 1965–70; under- + emphasize

Example Sentences

Because of deep-rooted racial and cultural and business ties, we are prone to overconcentrate on happenings and events to our east and to underemphasize the importance of those to our west.

From Time Magazine Archive