underplay

American  

[uhn-der-pley, uhn-der-pley] / ˌʌn dərˈpleɪ, ˈʌn dərˌpleɪ /

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.

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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 British  

/ 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

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Etymology

Origin of underplay

First recorded in 1725–35; under- + play

Example Sentences

That brief explanation understandably underplays the aching sadness that smoulders under the surface of his songs.

From BBC

And Mr. Sklenar, who was in “It Ends with Us” but is a relatively fresh face at the movies, smartly underplays his increasingly pivotal role, from which he slowly peels back the layers.

From The Wall Street Journal

Its singular radiance owes much to both romantic and religious impulses that Mr. Roeck’s book underplays.

From The Wall Street Journal

It should all be thrown away, underplayed, said on the run.”

From Los Angeles Times

No proper analysis can just ignore the reality of how underplayed the Wallabies were in the first Test.

From BBC

Related Words

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