underplaying

present participle of underplay

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for underplaying
Verb
  • As the rescue effort stretched into a fifth day, frustration is growing among survivors and volunteers who accuse authorities of slowing aid deliveries, restricting civilian rescue efforts and understating the true scale of the tragedy.
    Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 29 June 2026
  • Critics suggest the official estimates are optimistic, potentially understating inflation and the true deficit.
    Bob Carlson, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026
Verb
  • City codes show the council has 60 days to consider enacting the proposal before it can be placed on the ballot.
    Dylan Lysen July 6, Kansas City Star, 6 July 2026
  • In doing so, ERISA blocks states from enacting comprehensive health insurance reforms, including those promoting health insurance equity.
    Miranda Yaver, The Conversation, 2 July 2026
Verb
  • But critics have accused them of downplaying the risks.
    CBS News, CBS News, 12 June 2026
  • Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney hinted Wednesday that the opening could be delayed while downplaying any concerns.
    Joey Cappelletti, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2026
Verb
  • After the game, a disappointing loss to Côte d’Ivoire, some Ecuador fans asked their Ivorian counterparts to swap jerseys, mimicking a post-match tradition among players.
    Albert Samaha, New Yorker, 6 July 2026
  • And after celebrating by mimicking a fishing motion in honor of his Bass Pro Shops sponsor, Briscoe soaked it all in.
    Steve Millar, Chicago Tribune, 6 July 2026
Verb
  • But parents could make a lesson out of going on a trip to the bank, or with very young children, Tsuei recommends pretend play, such as acting out buying toys from a store.
    Jillian Pretzel, Parents, 30 June 2026
  • But, again, is acting out of expediency and the desire to streamline a conclusive end the same as delivering a final season representing the best of The Bear?
    Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 25 June 2026
Verb
  • Some of the most notable moments show Atlas imitating human emotional reactions.
    Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 24 June 2026
  • To celebrate, Gazza lay down on the grass and opened his mouth wide, imitating the dentist’s chair that had got him and his team-mates into so much bother a few weeks earlier.
    The Athletic UK Staff, New York Times, 18 June 2026
Verb
  • But many women who have become first lady of California and the nation have expressed misgivings about taking on such a role.
    Jenny Jarvie Follow, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
  • Financial services have historically directed the investing conversation at men, even as moms are often the ones taking on the bulk of the research, planning, emotional labor and logistics of family life.
    Natalie Gordon, Fortune, 6 July 2026
Verb
  • Critics and fanboy media thrashed Supergirl not just for its Guardians of the Galaxy touchstones, but also for aping Mad Max.
    Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 29 June 2026
  • For Shorts, the label will appear as a small overlay at the bottom of the video itself, although that will add to the already cluttered look of the TikTok-aping Shorts.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 27 May 2026
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.

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Underplaying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/underplaying. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster