underplay

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

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verb (used with object)

to act (a part) sketchily.

to act subtly and restrainedly.

to understate or de-emphasize; downplay: The ambassador underplayed his role in the peace negotiations.

verb (used without object)

to leave out of one's acting all subtlety and enriching detail.

to achieve an effect in acting with a minimum of emphasis.

Origin of underplay

First recorded in 1725–35; under- + play

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for underplay

lessen, reduce, decrease, underestimate, diminish, downplay, curtail, mute, minimize, soft-pedal, soften, belittle, underplay, deemphasize, derogate, dwarf, deprecate, prune, knock, attenuate

Examples from the Web for underplay

Contemporary Examples of underplay

What she did need to worry about was trying to underplay her book in view of the attention it drew.
Thank You, Elizabeth Wurtzel: ‘Prozac Nation’ Turns 20
Nicolaus Mills
July 31, 2014
To say that this is an unusual moment would be to underplay how unique it really is.
Charlie Wilson's CIA Adventures
George Crile
February 11, 2010

Historical Examples of underplay

Especially with a purple speech like that; you've simply got to learn to underplay.
My Fair Planet
Evelyn E. Smith

British Dictionary definitions for underplay

underplay

verb

to play (a role) with restraint or subtlety

to achieve (an effect) by deliberate lack of emphasis

(intr) cards to lead or follow suit with a lower card when holding a higher one

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