PLAY DOWN Synonyms: 85 Similar and Opposite Words

play down

verb

Definition of play down

as in to dismiss

to express scornfully one's low opinion of out of sheer envy, she would always play down her sister's accomplishments

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to minimize

to reduce in apparent importance if you play down your part in the project, you won't get the credit you deserve

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of play down The hearing officer noted that Marx, in a July podcast interview, had played down the violations and claimed the campaign was aware of them before the complaints began to mount. — Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 2 Oct. 2026 Wennberg’s defensive value and ability to play down the middle help solidify this lineup. — Shayna Goldman, New York Times, 21 Sep. 2026 With the Kroenke deal, the Angels will plug into a much larger sports and media ecosystem that should benefit the team that has always played down the road in Orange County in the shadow of the region’s beloved Los Angeles Dodgers franchise. — Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 1 Sep. 2026 But Blanche played down concerns that the erosion of judicial trust could impede his efforts to advance his agenda. — Alanna Durkin Richer, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for play down

Recent Examples of Synonyms for play down

Verb

Ben-Gvir dismisses concerns that such policies would cement Israel’s status as a pariah state.

— Eric Cortellessa, Time, 22 Oct. 2026
Lower courts had dismissed the case because Asian American students were not underrepresented at the magnet schools compared with the pool of students that applied.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of dismiss

Verb

The frack happening beneath us was about half as deep as Mount Everest is high, in a section of oil-rich rock that used to be considered out of reach; other innovations allow for simultaneous fracks, minimizing downtime.

— Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 22 Oct. 2026
Eco effort As a camp that focuses on conservation, minimizing environmental impact is the cornerstone of the Wilderness Desert Rhino ethos.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of minimize

Verb

The silhouette was mostly formfitting and streamlined, with emphasis at the hips and waist and a continuation of the contrasting sheer, black fabric running down the column skirt.

— Julia Teti, Footwear News, 22 Oct. 2026
Models literally ran down the catwalk at times during Adidas’ high-octane show with multiple acts.

— Stephy Chung, CNN Money, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of run down

Verb

Yet, the complaint says, both downplayed their firsthand knowledge of the laptop or involvement in investigations during 2023 congressional testimony.

— Eric Tucker, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
One of the proposal's drafters, Darien Shanske, a law professor at UC Davis, downplays reports of wealthy Californians relocating in anticipation of the measure.

— Trevor Laurence Jockims, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of downplay

Verb

That’s not because Crystal soft-pedals the emotional horror of returning to your home to find charred remains after watching, helpless, as flames took the locus of all your best memories.

— Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026
That’s not because Crystal soft-pedals the emotional horror of returning to the charred remains of your home after watching, helpless, as flames took the locus of all your best memories.

— Chris Jones, New York Daily News, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of soft-pedal

Verb

Members of Congress could be expected to resist presidential encroachments because those encroachments diminished their own power.

— Stephanie A, The Conversation, 26 Oct. 2026
In theory, such an arrangement diminishes the cells’ ability to transport oxygen from the lungs.

— D. T. Max, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026