as in minimizing
to reduce in apparent importance
he self-deprecatingly downplays his own contributions to the festival's success
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Recent Examples of downplaying
Modi and many of his BJP allies have spent years demonizing cow-killers while at the same time downplaying lynching reports.
—
Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 2 Jan. 2025
Another option— downplaying the captivity— wasn’t viable in a pre-cable era when the most trusted man in America, Walter Cronkite, reminded viewers every night on the CBS Evening News exactly how many days the hostages had been held.
—Jonathan Alter, TIME, 29 Dec. 2024
Members of Congress and New Jersey and New York state officials are among those who have brought their concern and counsel to social media, calling for the government to take concrete action and to stop downplaying the concerns.
—Brad Dress, The Hill, 17 Dec. 2024
Local officials have continued to push for more information despite federal officials downplaying the situation.
—Simmone Shah, TIME, 13 Dec. 2024
And maybe Clark is downplaying things a bit here.
—Mike D. Sykes, For The Win, 11 Dec. 2024
Douglas County yesterday released a statement downplaying her claims.
—Axios Denver, Axios, 10 Dec. 2024
Tucci, a reassuring screen presence for more than three decades, is casually excellent as the iconoclastic Bellini, wisely downplaying his character’s physicality in favor of meek conviction.
—Graham Hillard, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 29 Nov. 2024
Following the win over Wake Forest, the 22-year-old senior Ward — who played in his final home game — said all of the right things in downplaying the significance and pressure of playing Syracuse on the road with an ACC Title bid on the line.
—Dj Siddiqi, Forbes, 24 Nov. 2024
Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 2 Jan. 2025
Another option— downplaying the captivity— wasn’t viable in a pre-cable era when the most trusted man in America, Walter Cronkite, reminded viewers every night on the CBS Evening News exactly how many days the hostages had been held.
—Jonathan Alter, TIME, 29 Dec. 2024
Members of Congress and New Jersey and New York state officials are among those who have brought their concern and counsel to social media, calling for the government to take concrete action and to stop downplaying the concerns.
—Brad Dress, The Hill, 17 Dec. 2024
Local officials have continued to push for more information despite federal officials downplaying the situation.
—Simmone Shah, TIME, 13 Dec. 2024
And maybe Clark is downplaying things a bit here.
—Mike D. Sykes, For The Win, 11 Dec. 2024
Douglas County yesterday released a statement downplaying her claims.
—Axios Denver, Axios, 10 Dec. 2024
Tucci, a reassuring screen presence for more than three decades, is casually excellent as the iconoclastic Bellini, wisely downplaying his character’s physicality in favor of meek conviction.
—Graham Hillard, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 29 Nov. 2024
Following the win over Wake Forest, the 22-year-old senior Ward — who played in his final home game — said all of the right things in downplaying the significance and pressure of playing Syracuse on the road with an ACC Title bid on the line.
—Dj Siddiqi, Forbes, 24 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near downplaying
Cite this Entry
“Downplaying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/downplaying. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.
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