underplay

[ uhn-der-pley, uhn-der-pley ]

verb (used with object)

1. to act (a part) sketchily.
2. to act subtly and restrainedly.
3. to understate or de-emphasize; downplay:

   The ambassador underplayed his role in the peace negotiations.

verb (used without object)

1. to leave out of one's acting all subtlety and enriching detail.
2. to achieve an effect in acting with a minimum of emphasis.

underplay

/ ˌʌndəˈpleɪ /

verb

1. to play (a role) with restraint or subtlety
2. to achieve (an effect) by deliberate lack of emphasis
3. intr cards to lead or follow suit with a lower card when holding a higher one

Word History and Origins

Origin of underplay¹

First recorded in 1725–35; under- + play

Example Sentences

The manufacturers’ websites underplayed the benefits of breastfeeding and overstated its challenges.

From No Straight News

There were other considerations, and I don’t want to underplay the logistical challenges posed by the pandemic.

From Washington Post

One of Smith's biggest internal challenges is a perception that he long underplayed the severity of the investigation — presenting it as a relatively minor accounting problem.

From Axios

I won’t underplay the depth and complexity of California’s challenges.

From MIT Technology Review

These statements mark a shift for public bodies that, for decades, have underplayed health research on social issues.

From Quartz

What she did need to worry about was trying to underplay her book in view of the attention it drew.

From The Daily Beast

To say that this is an unusual moment would be to underplay how unique it really is.

From The Daily Beast

Unknown forces are all the time engaged in a mystic underplay which is the real action of the piece.

From Project Gutenberg

Especially with a purple speech like that; you've simply got to learn to underplay.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• curtail
• decrease
• diminish
• downplay
• lessen
• play down
• reduce
• trivialize
• underestimate